---

“Why is the daughter of the Sword Demon one of my comrades and the leader of the Nine Lotus Sect?!”

When the unexpected figure of the Nine Lotus Bishop appeared, my mind went blank. She was clearly suffering from a mysterious high fever, and I couldn’t grasp what was happening.

The Nine Lotus Bishop looked at me with curious eyes and said, “Are you of my kin? Is that a human shell? No… now that I look closer, you’re completely different. What are you?”

“……?”

What is she talking about?

The Nine Lotus Bishop wore a slightly puzzled expression before saying, “Even the gods find you interesting. Should I save you and take you with me?”

“Wait! Are you Seo Mun-hye?”

The Nine Lotus Bishop responded, “The original owner of this body had that name. And now I am the owner of this body… I’m borrowing a human flesh, but I am a descendant of the great evil god.”

“Descendant of an evil god? Are you an Otherworldly Race?”

“……”

The Nine Lotus Bishop snickered but didn’t answer, which was enough for me to piece together the situation. That horrible smirk had no trace of human emotion.

What stood before me was the spirit of an Otherworldly Race!

Not Seo Mun-hye at all, and her consciousness was absent.

The creature was a powerful servant known as a “descendant of the evil god.” It had taken control of Seo Mun-hye’s body using only its mental strength to manifest as the “Nine Lotus Bishop.”

But something didn’t add up.

While being a “descendant of the evil god” was formidable, it shouldn’t be strong enough to annihilate the Great Immortal or the Divine Skill. Moreover, why would such a powerful being bother to dominate a human, let alone Seo Mun-hye’s body?

Did it have to occupy Seo Mun-hye’s body for a reason?

As I mulled over this, the Nine Lotus Bishop muttered, “Just now, the gods spoke. They’ve ordered me to bring you alive…”

“……”

“Shall I kill the rest?”

The Nine Lotus Bishop slowly raised her hand.

In that instant, Jin So-cheong lunged forward like a lightning bolt and charged at the Nine Lotus Bishop.

Boom!!

A thunderous explosion erupted as an intense battle began. It was a whirlwind of rapid, powerful clashes, too fast to even consider strategizing. It wasn’t just speed; it was a spectacle of countless mind control techniques and martial arts shredding through the Nine Lotus Bishop.

In a split second, the Nine Lotus Bishop countered Jin So-cheong’s attack with incredible speed, but even I could see that her movements lacked mastery in martial arts; it was merely sheer physical power suppressing the techniques. Yet, the innate physical capabilities of this creature dwarfed a human’s, making it appear dozens of times stronger than a Dragon Person.

‘This is insane… It’s not dodging or blocking… it’s just taking the hits!’

I was appalled as I watched. No matter how great the physical prowess, no amateur could withstand Jin So-cheong’s mental techniques and remain unscathed given innate defenses so incomparably high, it wouldn’t even leave a scratch! There was no metal in the world that could withstand such force, and this creature would rival even Dakgi’s protective barriers.

This thing looked human, but it was clearly a cosmic monster. In fact, it was Jin So-cheong’s incredible martial skills that kept such a monster from counterattacking!

Seeing their struggles, the Poison King Tang San shouted, “I’m going too!!”

Boom!

His spear transformed into a brilliant azure as he joined Jin So-cheong in attacking the Nine Lotus Bishop. With the combined effort of two high-level experts, fearful qi energy burst forth like thunder, shaking the area for hundreds of yards.

I was watching from a distance, trying to find a moment to jump in when suddenly Mangnyang stepped up to assist Jin So-cheong with a technique, while Zhuge Sa pulled me back.

As I was dragged backward by Zhuge Sa, he said urgently, “Baek Woong. Do you have any secret weapons? Even against the Sea God, we need something up our sleeve.”

“That’s…”

“Jin So-cheong and Tang San are only delaying the Half-Power Nine Lotus Bishop. If that creature were at full strength, we’d be dead in ten seconds. If we don’t make a move, we must run. Choose quickly!”

“Ugh.”

“Using the grimoire for a suicide attack won’t work in this situation, so be careful!”

It seemed even Zhuge Sa was unsure of summoning the “Old Ruler” using the grimoire. The evil god currently had dominion over the world due to having acquired the Law of Cause and Effect, and there were unlikely any Old Ruler who would risk opposing an evil god. Plus, having witnessed the evil god’s overwhelming strength, he fully understood the danger.

As Zhuge Sa urged me, I rapidly contemplated. My secret weapon had already been used at Muwang’s Tower, and the only option left was to bring forth the Immortal Sword Technique. Trying to activate the Seven Luminaries was pointless because xuyou was still unfreed, and the Fire Dragon Sword was still unrepaired, so it was no more than a famous sword. Even if I maximized the National Seal’s power, it was uncertain how effective it would be against a foe like the Nine Lotus Bishop.

‘With this little strength, defeating a Sea God-level being is beyond reach…’

Even though the Nine Lotus Bishop had diminished in power, it had still single-handedly routed the forces of Heaven; it could still be thought of as equal to a Sea God. Jin So-cheong stalling was not an exaggeration.

Then it happened.

Whooooo!

“……!!”

The sword within my mind was crying out. I didn’t know why, but a vibration of sword energy resonated in my head, sparking a warrior spirit within me. I suddenly felt clear-headed, like a massive flame igniting inside me.

I can do it.

I slowly nodded in response to Zhuge Sa and dashed forward.

‘Yeah. It doesn’t make sense to run now!’

I had come here to resolve my fate with the Nine Lotus Bishop, no matter the outcome! Plus, if she recovered her strength, a scene like this would repeat itself, so attacking her now, while she was vulnerable, was the correct move.

‘I’ll think about trivial matters later.’

What I needed right now was courage!

And I was about to ignite the will that Yeodong-bin had entrusted to me!

“Yahhh!!!”

Wooosh!

As I leapt into the battlefield, the Fire Dragon Sword suddenly unleashed massive flames, transforming me into a fiery dragon as it wrapped around my arm, simultaneously manifesting another sword in my left hand.

The Immortal Sword didn’t physically exist, but it began to move as if it were real, dancing in my grip. I commenced gathering the National Seal’s power from the ground up and swung forward with a single slash.

Crash!

The Nine Lotus Bishop attempted to sever my Fire Dragon Sword with a technique, yet she stumbled back, unable to withstand the momentum.

“Hmm!”

“Impressive!”

As I joined the fray, Jin So-cheong and Tang San looked astonished but relieved, as they were previously struggling against the daunting power of the Nine Lotus Bishop.

Jin So-cheong sent me a secret transmission.

[ Baek Woong! Can you decipher the battle of the absolute realm with the Immortal Sword Technique?]

[ I can do it!]

I clenched both swords tightly.

[ I’m not sure, but Yeodong-bin is giving me strength.]

I had expected Yeodong-bin to manifest with the Immortal Sword Technique, but instead, she had merely become a sword. Yet, strangely, the moment I grasped the Immortal Sword, I began perceiving the movements of the absolute masters Jin So-cheong and Tang San, and even the Nine Lotus Bishop’s speed beyond them.

And it dawned on me what this state was.

Heavenly Escape Sword Technique

Moon-Style Defense Technique!

It was the crystallization of Jin So-cheong’s extraordinary battle experience over centuries and the superpower of a latecomer to block the enemy’s ambush! The Immortal Sword amplified my power several times by combining Jin So-cheong and Tang San’s movements with their techniques!

Now I could see it.

The intricate webs of the absolute masters’ barriers and the layers upon layers of mind control techniques!

Ka-ching!

Moments later, I matched Jin So-cheong’s thrusting attack, swinging both the Immortal Sword and the Fire Dragon Sword to rain additional strikes on the Nine Lotus Bishop. She absorbed the blows with an air of indifference and then, with a look of amusement, said, “I never knew there were humans left on earth who rivaled the Divine Skill.”

Whoosh!

“Gah!”

“Below your level, but still impressive.”

However, as the Nine Lotus Bishop snapped her fingers, the absolute realm’s poison master, the Poison King Tang San, was sent flying with a brutal scream. Blood-splattered, he promptly fell into an incapacitated state. I realized the power coursing through that finger technique was on par with the Heart of Heaven’s Abundance of the Master of the White Lotus Sect. My spine chilled at the thought.

The Nine Lotus Bishop drew forth the chaotic energy in both hands and said, “The Master of the White Lotus attempted to blend chaos and the source, but those who truly control chaos need not do such things. Just by absorbing pure chaos, one gains an ample amount of strength.”

“What?”

“I’ll take a short break…”

Snap, crackle, pop!

In an instant, black lightning wrapped around the Nine Lotus Bishop’s body, and a moment later, her strength surged several times stronger! It was as if she had swiftly recovered from the damage dealt by Muwang’s Tower! It was clearly the unique ability of the “descendant of the evil god.”

‘Crap! I was right to strike now!’

If I let her be, she would surely recover her original strength within days!

But it seemed she couldn’t move while recovering, standing still like a statue. Both Jin So-cheong and I shared the thought that this was our chance and without hesitation charged at the Nine Lotus Bishop.

Boom!

“Ugh.”

Jin So-cheong was thrown back, groaning. He soared away with the momentum of the unification of the Divine Spear and the body but seemed unable to penetrate the shielding defense, bleeding profusely from his left arm. I too felt chaos engulfing my body as I came against the barrier. I realized that if completely devoured, I could only die as a human!

Mangnyang cried out in agony.

“Urgent protective spell!”

And just like that, the shield Mangnyang cast saved me from imminent death. If chaos consumed me completely, I was doomed!

I quickly retracted, pondering my next move.

‘I can’t pierce that barrier…’

The issue was that it was an unknown magic technique, leaving me with no immediate solution. I needed either overwhelming power to obliterate it or a grand spell to counter it. I could see the chaos surrounding the Nine Lotus Bishop slowly cracking like an eggshell, feeding my urgency.

Then it was Jin So-cheong, who calmly righted himself, positioning his spear toward her. He narrowed his eyes, channeling every last ounce of his strength into the spear tip.

I could feel it.

That attack was the culmination of Jin So-cheong’s ultimate skill he had realized “50 years later.” I could sense that he had refrained from using this technique before because it was still incomplete and required a moment’s grace to unleash.

In that frozen moment of silence – it was as if I felt Jin So-cheong speaking to me from a tranquil black-and-white world. It had always been a thing between masters to transmit one another’s thoughts in moments of mental discipline, but it seemed Jin So-cheong had reached a level where even that fleeting chance was under his control.

[ Baek Woong. Look.]

In my mind’s eye, the tip of Jin So-cheong’s spear loomed like Mount Tai. When all my consciousness focused on his spear, I felt his will.

[ In the ultimate realm, time is distance. In this chaotic vastness of billions of combinations, perceiving the flow to acquire the ultimate distance is nearly impossible. Therefore, I realized that there’s an upper and lower axis of flow, then an overlapping circle again. If you understand that the circle descends from high to low, it’s simple. Just move against the flow from above to below. While I pursued the ultimate martial art for fifty years, I came to this principle.]

Jin So-cheong’s spear began to rotate slowly.

[ Watch closely. The void gave birth to the qi.]

Threads began to coalesce in the void, merging back into nature. It was not merely a martial arts application but a majestic movement that felt like interpreting a colossal talisman. Jin So-cheong hadn’t even shifted from his spot yet, but the presence he emanated swelled immensely within the space.

[ Baek Woong, as you approach the martial boundary, the Arahant’s consciousness shall manifest, revealing the primordial void. Ultimately, the art of combat is the essence of that void against chaos. The pursuit of martial arts seeks to grasp the primordial, the ultimate thread, to overcome the Law of Cause and Effect… What the gods portray in humanly comprehensible form is akin to the Dao’s Taiji.]

Qi points merged, and meridians connected. Creating a boundary beyond the limitations of the flesh, the external qi was purified and drawn into the body.

Was it a mere illusion?

For an instant, Jin So-cheong appeared like a divine being.

Jin So-cheong, who had been espousing the principles of martial arts, suddenly displayed an expression of indescribable sorrow. A massive lament.

[ This absolute cycle, this ultimate flow defying taboos is something beyond human comprehension. But it is the power only permitted to humans… In the world of three thousand realms, only the domain of the Martial God.]

Isn’t that a contradiction?

Something not easily achievable with human ability yet granted solely to humans?

[ Such a profound contradiction, yet that’s the Martial Soul. The Martial God only granted their connection to those who could relieve that contradiction…]

Upon sensing my confusion, Jin So-cheong seemed to be mumbling to himself.

[ And I too am but a stepping stone for the Martial Soul… But even so, I…]

His voice trailed off, laced with sorrow.

The moment expanded further, and I felt my vision fading to white. The chaotic agglomeration of billions of changes fused into singularity, a metaphysical dimension.

When my consciousness returned through that fractured moment, I saw Jin So-cheong’s decisive strike piercing the Nine Lotus Bishop’s chest.

[ With this soul, I will show you the path of the Martial God, Baek Woong!]

Divine Skill

Divine Territory!

Galaxy Annihilation!

A flash erupted briefly, and with a sizzling sound, the chaotic barrier split apart.

Boom!

As the barrier dissipated, Jin So-cheong’s spear impaled the Nine Lotus Bishop’s chest, and she suddenly showcased an incredible ability to regenerate, almost ensnaring his spear. She swung her hand languidly as if preparing to kill Jin So-cheong, but then her movements froze, filled with shock.

[ No… this is… The connection to the constellation has broken… I cannot hear the voice of the gods… This makes no sense…]

Thud!

Her regeneration capacity suddenly halted, and an expression of utter disbelief dawned on the Nine Lotus Bishop’s face. She attempted to invoke a powerful ability, only to scream in agony,

[ How can a human’s power intrude into the realm of the gods…!!]

Crash!

Jin So-cheong drove his spear down, pinning the Nine Lotus Bishop into the ground, causing a massive earthquake in Luoyang. In a heartbeat, his body and spear transformed into a radiant orb, and a thunderous roar echoed through the area.

[ Haaaaaa!! ]

Jin So-cheong’s will spread like a divine cloud, coating me in his thoughts and pain. Despite the torment coursing through every cell of his being, he did not halt the unfolding of Galaxy Annihilation. All the light in the world converged into the flourish of his spear.

Tap, tap, tap!

“……!!”

In that awe-inspiring sight, I saw Jin So-cheong transforming into a brilliant light. This was not the Thunder Spirit but rather the embodiment of his power reaching an incomprehensible stage. As if it had become a spear, its strength intensified, penetrating the Nine Lotus Bishop.

Bang!

Moments later, the noise faded, and the tremors ceased. A massive crater over a hundred yards wide had formed in the ground, with Jin So-cheong pausing at the center, his spear lodged in the Nine Lotus Bishop’s chest.

The Nine Lotus Bishop seemed unconscious, barely moving.

Instead, a dark energy flared from her crown, as if the spirit of the evil god that had been possessing Seo Mun-hye sought to escape. This indicated that Jin So-cheong had dealt a lethal blow to the spirit of the half-god.

Jin So-cheong had almost single-handedly defeated the Nine Lotus Bishop!

“Jin So-cheong!!”

As I called out to him and approached, Jin So-cheong knelt, speaking weakly, “I can only unfold Galaxy Annihilation once… I felt this would be the end after using it. I have yet to reach the divine realm. Thus, I couldn’t use it when the Nine Lotus Bishop invaded before.”

A forlorn expression shadowed his face.

“What…!!”

“Baek Woong, I believed you would return someday…”

I stood there in shock, transfixed by Jin So-cheong’s lifeless body.

The cold-blooded genius, who seemed invincible, had met such a fleeting demise?

I had accomplished the great feat of subduing the Nine Lotus Bishop, yet reality felt so distant, I thought I would lose my mind. Just then, the Celestial Sage walked toward the body of the Nine Lotus Bishop and cast a spell on its spirit.

“Seal!”

Snap!

“Hmm… It’s incredibly powerful. Will I be able to hold it in the Celestial Realm’s prison? I doubt it…”

A moment later, after drawing the spirit a bit too forcefully, the Celestial Sage grumbled. As expected, merely sealing it took a toll, leaving his right arm blackened. The power of a descendant of the evil god wasn’t mere talk.

The Celestial Sage glanced at me and said, “Baek Woong, if you carry on Jin So-cheong’s legacy, I have something to say.”

“……”

“It’s not the moment for that, so come to Mount Tai in three days.”

Boom!

And just like that, the Celestial Sage vanished on his cloud. But I was so affected by Jin So-cheong’s death that I couldn’t give a damn about his disappearance, merely staring wordlessly at the lifeless body.

‘Jin So-cheong.’

Did he endure for fifty years against the formidable Nine Lotus Bishop and the Otherworldly Race, always waiting for my return?

And did he withhold his ultimate technique and summon token for the Celestial Sage, waiting for me to return while enduring the torment of losing his comrades?

Thinking of the immense pain and patience he must have endured filled me with guilt.

‘If only I hadn’t wasted those fifty years because of Chi You…’

While my hands trembled with frustration, Mangnyang and Zhuge Sa approached. Zhuge Sa looked coldly at Jin So-cheong’s body and remarked, “Sadly, it seems his soul has been bound by some cosmic being. We can’t use the Soul Exchange Technique to pull him back. There’s no recycling him into the Portrait Immortal.”

“Zhuge Sa!!”

His casual dismissal of Jin So-cheong’s death caused me to snap. Zhuge Sa replied coldly, “Baek Woong. Does weeping over his self-sacrifice change anything? Shouldn’t you focus on what you must do now rather than mourning the dead?”

“……”

“You already owe us fifty years. Even if it wasn’t your intention.”

I ground my teeth.

“I know!”

His sharp wake-up call brought me back.

“I won’t give up.”

Right! This wasn’t the time to stand still.

The death of Jin So-cheong could not be in vain; I had no choice but to move forward!

I steeled my resolve, shouting into the void, “I won’t give up until I see the destruction of the gods!!”

 

---