Master’s Blessing (5)
Whoosh!
A vast sea of pristine white clouds hung thick in the sky.
One group of cultivators soared across it.
They flew swiftly, shooting out brilliant waves of light as they vanished into the distance.
They were disciples of Changcheon Gaebyeokmun, along with a few from Yi Yun (Second Cloud) sects.
Two Yi Yun disciples led the way at the front, while five followed behind.
And in the center of the group, Seo Eun-hyun and Oh Hyun-seok soared through the air.
“By the way, when do you think we’ll arrive? We’ve already flown almost half a day…”
Oh Hyun-seok’s question was met by a Yi Yun disciple who had taken the lead.
“Just a little longer. We’re almost there.”
“Hmm… It does make me curious. Have your senior brothers seen Changhan-do before?”
“Well, it’s our first time too. Changhan-do itself is so vast that it took us forever to get familiar with the place. And the other human-race pocket dimensions? We’ve only visited a handful of islands right next to us.”
“That’s exciting… The headquarters of the Human Race Alliance, I suppose? Like a capital or something?”
“Yeah, probably. Definitely.”
As they chatted casually while flying through the clouds,
Whoosh!
“Oh… there it is…”
The clouds parted, and before their eyes appeared a pocket dimension far larger than any they had ever crossed—vast and imposing.
From a distance, it looked only as big as twenty times Changhan-do. But upon closer inspection, its defensive array was overwhelmingly thick and massive, wrapping the entire land in a mysterious spiritual energy.
“The Human Race Alliance headquarters, Cheonin-do…”
Crackle!
All the disciples of Changcheon Gaebyeokmun gaped at the overwhelming size of Cheonin-do before them.
“Everyone, hold off for now.”
Among the Yi Yun disciples watching, the one with the highest clearance produced a credential proving their identity and shot toward Cheonin-do.
Flash!
As the group arrived before Cheonin-do’s array, the credential flared brightly, creating a small opening in the formation.
Oh Hyun-seok, upon entering, was stunned by the dense spiritual energy inside.
“I knew Changhan-do had thick spiritual energy, but this… it’s nearly two or three times denser.”
“No, it’s actually five to six times. What you felt from Changhan-do was the spiritual energy from the main vein in a particularly rich area. This is on another level.”
The representative Yi Yun disciple of the expedition, Cheongmun-gyu, inhaled the energy and spoke.
“All right, then. Let’s find a transmission array near the Lake of Bright Spirits.”
“Yes!”
The headquarters of the Human Race Alliance, Cheonin-do.
There, transmission arrays connected to other clan alliances could be found.
Of course, among the human-race clans, only those friendly with the human race had active arrays. Most species living near the Lake of Bright Spirits were here for trade profits, so there was no major issue.
“The water of the Lake of Bright Spirits!”
“The Lake of Bright Spirits!”
“The Lake of Bright Spirits has become a hot commodity!”
Oh Hyun-seok scanned the surroundings and said.
“Seems the water here is quite popular.”
“Indeed…”
The Yi Yun disciples looked dazed as they wandered around Cheonin-do.
At that moment, Seo Eun-hyun spoke calmly.
“The water of the Lake of Bright Spirits is also called the Lake of Bright Spirits by other races. Drinking it greatly increases the life force in the body and allows one to unleash the instant immortality art for a moment. That’s why everyone carries a reserve life just to drink it. When you put it into puppets and complete the special process, even if the puppets break, you gain self-repair. It’s a treasure that makes the eyes of puppet masters light up.”
“Oh! Senior Seo, how do you know that?”
“…Well, I just overheard it somewhere. Besides, if the Lake of Bright Spirits is nearby, it means there’s a transmission array nearby.”
Scooping his hand out, Seo Eun-hyun pointed to one spot.
“Many souls move there. That must be the transmission array. Let’s go.”
“Ah… o-okay.”
Following Seo Eun-hyun, the group reached the base of a massive tower.
Countless people stood in line at the bottom of the five-story tower.
“This is the transmission array for the Lake of Bright Spirits. Now that we’ve found it, we should head to the Human Race Alliance headquarters, properly register the investigation mission with Goe-gun, and then use the array.”
Following Cheongmun-gyu’s lead, they approached the Human Race Alliance headquarters at the center of Cheonin-do.
While scanning the area, Oh Hyun-seok noticed Seo Eun-hyun doing the same.
“Oh, Eun-hyun. You look amazed too?”
Oh Hyun-seok found Seo Eun-hyun’s human-like reaction fascinating.
Scooping his hand out, Seo Eun-hyun said.
“Yes. Well, it makes sense. Since it’s our first time here, observing everything will make future visits smoother.”
“Haha, you’re so meticulous.”
While laughing boisterously, Oh Hyun-seok suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
“What the—?”
He wasn’t the only one.
The entire expedition team and other cultivators passing by suddenly stopped, staring at the sky.
A moment later, the chill vanished.
“W-what is it?”
One Yi Yun disciple asked those around him.
At that moment, Seo Eun-hyun said gravely.
“That was the feeling given off by the consciousness of a Taesu (Great Cultivator) at the Integration Grand Completion stage. Their consciousness is overwhelmingly larger than ours, so they could easily block it… but they chose to observe the area for a short time.”
One Core Formation cultivator nearby nodded solemnly.
“That’s right. Over the past few decades, every Taesu from every race has gathered near Cheonin-do. They wander around looking for something. Since it happens so often, we’ve all just accepted it.”
“…I see. Thank you for the explanation.”
Scooping his hand out, Seo Eun-hyun expressed his gratitude.
“Phew… Is this a good thing or not…”
Cheongmun-gyu frowned and entered the grand palace of the alliance headquarters. After a while, he emerged holding a credential confirming the mission.
“All right, we’re good. With the investigation mission verified, we can use the transmission array.”
So they boarded the transmission array heading toward the Lake of Bright Spirits area.
Flash!
Oh Hyun-seok scanned the surroundings.
“Huh, so this is near the Lake of Bright Spirits?”
The spiritual energy here was so stimulating that he felt refreshed.
Oh Hyun-seok clenched his fists.
“It seems practicing here will make breakthroughs much easier.”
Cheongmun-gyu surveyed the expedition members and said.
“That’s right. Just so you know, we’re not here for a vacation. We need to observe the Goe-gun activity for about five years. Any questions?”
“I have one. I heard there are spiritual medicines near the Lake of Bright Spirits that help with breakthroughs. Can I collect them during the mission to reduce danger?”
Seo Eun-hyun’s question made the others’ eyes light up.
“It’s fine. Just don’t provoke the species near the Lake of Bright Spirits. Trade as much as possible.”
“Understood! Thank you!”
“Everyone, listen up. Don’t steal or threaten to seize goods. Got it?”
“Yes!”
“We’ll give you a full day. Go enjoy the area around the Lake of Bright Spirits.”
Instantly, the expedition members scattered.
Oh Hyun-seok thought to himself.
“So the Lake of Bright Spirits is that amazing?”
Days passed.
The expedition, including Cheongmun-gyu, left the Lake of Bright Spirits area and arrived at some place.
“Here…”
Traces of a massive battle. Ground torn up, several huge ravines carved out.
And scattered everywhere, remnants of puppet pieces.
“This was the site of one clan from the Hanling race.”
Scooping his hand out, Seo Eun-hyun frowned slightly.
“The Goe-gun came and went.”
Cheongmun-gyu frowned at the sight.
“That madman’s activities have grown even larger than when he was in the lower realm.”
“…For now, let’s head to where the Goe-gun’s Wondrous Castle is visible.”
“Understood.”
They followed the path of destruction.
After a while, Cheongmun-gyu stopped in mid-air.
A massive ancient forest near the Lake of Bright Spirits!
At the edge of that forest, in the distance, a tiny dot appeared.
“There it is. The Goe-gun’s Wondrous Castle.”
Oh Hyun-seok frowned.
“That tiny dot?”
“Yes.”
“Isn’t that too far? You said to investigate…”
“What are you talking about? This distance is perfect. If I get any closer, I’ll be captured and modified by that madman.”
Shiver!
Cheongmun-gyu shook from the bad memories.
“I heard he almost caught me before I broke through in the lower realm.”
Oh Hyun-seok recalled the stories about Cheongmun-gyu and the Goe-gun.
And suddenly frowned.
“Five whole years observing that madman. I’m a bit worried.”
“Worried? Five years for a cultivator is nothing. Besides, you’re still new to the time sense of the Peak realm disciples.”
Cheongmun-gyu laughed heartily and patted Oh Hyun-seok’s back.
Oh Hyun-seok let out a small sigh and landed on a tree in the forest.
“Well, no point thinking here. I should just keep training like before. And talk to Seo Eun-hyun. If I have time, I should find Kim Yeon too.”
As he assumed the lotus position, he thought,
“…?”
Below the tree, Seo Eun-hyun knelt on the ground, hands pressed down, doing something.
“Hey, Eun-hyun. What are you doing?”
Scooping his hand out, Seo Eun-hyun answered calmly.
“Starting now, I’m drawing a circuit connecting underground to the Wondrous Castle.”
“What?”
“Once my circuit touches the Wondrous Castle, I can monitor Kim Yeon’s situation without them noticing. Trust me.”
“Ah… Of course I trust you. Why even ask?”
“…Thank you. Just in case, don’t tell Cheongmun-gyu.”
“Got it.”
He nodded and looked at Seo Eun-hyun.
“There must be a way.”
He believed in Seo Eun-hyun.
Recently, no matter how strange he seemed, he was still his junior.
Trusting someone who once followed him was no big deal.
Five years passed in an instant.
Whoosh!
Light swirled around Oh Hyun-seok, sucking him in.
Crash!
His aura surged to the peak.
“Core Formation Grand Completion, Heavenly Star Trail Domain!”
He had finally reached the end of the Core Formation realm!
Oh Hyun-seok stood up, eyes shining.
“It’s not just the peak.”
“If only I had a guideline, I could reach Nascent Soul in an instant.”
The land near the Lake of Bright Spirits had always been filled with mysterious life force. That life force had greatly aided his body-refining technique, making his progress lightning fast.
“Finally…”
Oh Hyun-seok smiled happily.
“Finally, I’ve reached the same realm level as Seo Eun-hyun.”
That was true.
Seo Eun-hyun had reached Core Formation Grand Completion after five years, but he hadn’t gained any new insights into Nascent Soul.
He was still stuck at the Integration Grand Completion stage.
Therefore, Oh Hyun-seok had finally caught up in realm level.
“Well, even at the same level, we might not be able to fight properly…”
Crash…
Oh Hyun-seok felt he could finally spar with Seo Eun-hyun now.
“The mission is almost over. After I spar with him, I should ask about what to do with Kim Yeon.”
He flew toward the distant Seo Eun-hyun, who knelt with eyes closed.
“Seo Eun-hyun! Still haven’t found a way to contact Kim Yeon-jin?”
“No. It took longer because I had to steal one-tenth of the control over the Wondrous Castle after connecting the circuit. We’ll be able to contact Kim Yeon-jin in a few days.”
“I see. So our main objective will be almost achieved soon.”
“That’s right.”
“Then we’ll head back soon.”
Scooping his hand out, Seo Eun-hyun said.
“You want to spar?”
“Yes.”
“…I’m sorry, but I want to know Kim Yeon’s situation as soon as possible…”
Before he could finish, Oh Hyun-seok swung his fist at Seo Eun-hyun.
Crack!
A blue flash shot toward him.
Scooping his hand out, Seo Eun-hyun dodged swiftly and glared at Oh Hyun-seok.
“What kind of trick is this… No, do you have that much courage?”
“Hah, you really know my heart so well!”
“…”
“You’ve always been like this. You seem to know everything yet never speak of the important things, and you avoid talking to me. If you’ve completely changed, then those human moments you show from time to time were the Seo Eun-hyun I knew!”
Crash!
Oh Hyun-seok stomped his foot.
The ground vibrated.
“What the hell is going on?! Why did you come to this world, start cultivating, and suddenly stop talking to me?!”
Crash crash!
The air around them churned.
“Who are you?! Are you the Seo Eun-hyun I know, or someone else?!”
Oh Hyun-seok glared at Seo Eun-hyun fiercely.
Scooping his hand out, Seo Eun-hyun sighed lightly.
“…Sparring here is too dangerous. Let’s leave.”
Step!
Along with him, Seo Eun-hyun pushed off the ground and flew somewhere.
Oh Hyun-seok followed.
They flew high above the ancient forest for a while.
After half a day, Seo Eun-hyun landed in the middle of a vast wasteland beyond the forest and looked at Oh Hyun-seok.
“Honestly, Senior Oh, I don’t think you can beat me.”
“Hah… Senior Oh…”
Oh Hyun-seok grinned.
“The title ‘Senior’ was only used in private after I became your deputy, but now you call me that… Let me see if this really is the Seo Eun-hyun I know.”
At the same time, Oh Hyun-seok exploded with momentum.
Crash!
Stomping his foot, the ground flipped.
Instantly, Oh Hyun-seok’s body melted into the ground and vanished.
But Seo Eun-hyun, expressionless, waved his hand toward one side.
Whoosh!
Crash!
And from the hiding spot, Oh Hyun-seok emerged and punched at Seo Eun-hyun.
Whoosh!
Flash!
The air exploded. Seo Eun-hyun caught Oh Hyun-seok’s fist softly and entered his embrace, extending his palm.
But the next moment, Oh Hyun-seok’s body glowed, and he moved above Seo Eun-hyun.
Crash crash!
Stomping his leg down, he slammed into the ground where Seo Eun-hyun had been.
The earth exploded. The area instantly turned into a sea of lava.
Whoosh whoosh!
From the lava sea engulfed in flames, Oh Hyun-seok shot toward Seo Eun-hyun.
Crash, crash, crash!
Each punch carried the power and speed of mid-Nascent Soul!
Scooping his hand out, Seo Eun-hyun used his phantom steps and keen aura to evade all of Oh Hyun-seok’s attacks.
And Oh Hyun-seok began to pour more power into his body.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Oh Hyun-seok’s speed increased.
Now, just moving caused the air around him to explode, sonic booms shattering in all directions.
And gradually, his fists began to brush past Seo Eun-hyun dangerously.
“It’s touching, it’s touching!”
Finally.
Whoosh!
Oh Hyun-seok’s body glowed brightly with five-colored light, and at some point he shot toward Seo Eun-hyun.
And.
Crash!
His fist “touched” Seo Eun-hyun!
Crash crash!
Scooping his hand out, Seo Eun-hyun was pushed back and slammed into a corner of the wasteland.
“Phew…”
Oh Hyun-seok sat down on the ground and grinned.
“How was it? Feels like I can actually take you now?”
Whoosh…
Where Seo Eun-hyun had been slammed down, a huge crater formed. From its center, Seo Eun-hyun rose.
Clatter, clatter…
Scooping his hand out, Seo Eun-hyun walked out of the dust with a blank expression.
Both his arms were broken.
Click…
Of course, every time he took a step, life force flooded his arms and healed them.
“…Well, it seems you can now follow me to some extent.”
And he looked at Oh Hyun-seok.
Start!
Oh Hyun-seok suddenly felt as if he were facing a giant tiger.
Like in the old days when he was just an ordinary person, thrown into the jaws of a tiger without any weapons.
His spine chilled, and his senses screamed in alarm.
Swallow!
“You…”
“Then… now…”
“I’ll really start using my full strength.”
“I’ll fight you properly.”
As he spoke, Seo Eun-hyun spread his hands into the shape of a hand blade and assumed a stance.
And the next moment.
He swung his hand blade sideways.
Whoosh!
“!!!”
Oh Hyun-seok instinctively crouched to dodge, feeling the crisis.
And at the same time, he glimpsed the ground he had lifted and the mountains that rose from it being sliced horizontally.
“From now on, I can use techniques too.”
Grin…
Scooping his hand out, Seo Eun-hyun smiled.
But Oh Hyun-seok didn’t feel it as a smile.
More like a beast opening its mouth to find prey.
Flash!
Oh Hyun-seok hurriedly entered the world of consciousness to watch Seo Eun-hyun’s attacks.
His understanding of consciousness had deepened; he could now see both blue and red lines at the same time.
But the next moment, he despaired.
“I can’t avoid it!”
Countless, billions of trajectories swirled freely around Seo Eun-hyun, rushing toward him.
And those “trajectories” were overlaid with the five-colored aura from Oh Hyun-seok’s body-refining technique and shot at him.
Crash crash crash!
Swords’ trajectories danced everywhere.
Inside the world of consciousness, Oh Hyun-seok could hear Seo Eun-hyun’s martial art through his consciousness.
Danak Sword Art.
Mountain Beyond Mountain is Endless!
Crash crash crash!
“I can’t avoid it!”
Then don’t avoid!
Crunch!
Starlight power swirled around Oh Hyun-seok’s body.
At the same time, starlight burst from his skin, making his body semi-transparent.
But what shone inside him was not flesh, blood, bones, or organs.
A star sky!
Like a star sky like the universe, it operated according to fixed laws within Oh Hyun-seok’s body.
Instantly, Oh Hyun-seok transformed as if he were the “night” itself.
Crash, crash, crash!
Countless trajectories hit his body, but they could not pierce it.
“Is this the end?”
Crash!
Oh Hyun-seok pushed off the ground and charged at Seo Eun-hyun, meeting the trajectories.
Crack!
A blue light from the Blue Dragon Breaking Origin Palm swirled around his fist.
Oh Hyun-seok focused his mind on Seo Eun-hyun.
“Every trajectory is dangerous if it hits without activating the Starlight Body Refining Seal. My physical strength in bare-body state is at mid-Nascent Soul level, so even one would be fatal at that level.”
Whoosh!
Oh Hyun-seok frowned.
“But activating Starlight Body Refining Seal consumes too much mana right now. I need to finish quickly!”
Flash!
Oh Hyun-seok arrived in front of Seo Eun-hyun and raised his fist.
“So, this isn’t the end, right? Seo Eun-hyun!”
And Seo Eun-hyun smiled.
“Good. Then…”
But Oh Hyun-seok suddenly felt a chill and stopped his punch, stepping back.
Crash crash!
At the same time, black things erupted around Seo Eun-hyun.
Click…
The ground around them rotted.
Thousands of curse seals surrounded Seo Eun-hyun, filled with venom.
“Should I try using the Peak realm art too?”
“Hahaha… Damn you.”
Oh Hyun-seok grinned.
“I didn’t think it was the Peak realm art?”
And thousands of curse seals looked at him like tentacles.
“Dark Marriage Ghost Banner.”
Crash!
Several curse seals stuck to Oh Hyun-seok’s legs.
At the same time, Oh Hyun-seok felt his legs become several times heavier.
“Ugh!”
Flash!
When he concentrated the starlight, the curse seals dispersed and his legs returned, but he still felt the same.
“One curse seal had that effect, but if I take all thousands…”
Without thinking, he would lose!
“Heavenly Forest Water Sea.”
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
The river of curse seals that had been surging like tentacles around Seo Eun-hyun formed a forest around him.
A rotten ancient tree forest made of curse seals filled the surroundings.
And the ancient trees shook in unison, amplifying Seo Eun-hyun’s curse seals, each shooting thousands of curse art techniques at Oh Hyun-seok.
“Haha, annoying!”
Crash crash crash!
Oh Hyun-seok laughed heartily and punched the air wildly.
The blue aura in his fists exploded, neutralizing the curse arts.
But Seo Eun-hyun began forming another seal.
Crash crash!
From inside the rotten ancient tree forest, wooden dolls identical to Seo Eun-hyun began to appear.
Crack, crack!
When Seo Eun-hyun raised his hand toward the wooden dolls, strange circuits began to appear on their heads.
“The puppet circuits that Seo Eun-hyun controls!”
Crash crash!
At the same time, fifteen puppets simultaneously released mid-Nascent Soul momentum.
Click, click, click!
The puppets opened their mouths.
Venomous aura surged into the puppets’ mouths.
Oh Hyun-seok realized.
“I can’t avoid this.”
“Then just take it head-on!”
Crash!
With Starlight Body Refining Seal activated, Oh Hyun-seok clenched both fists.
Flash!
Blue wings erupted from his back.
One pair, two pairs, three pairs…
And four pairs!
“Seven Wings!”
Oh Hyun-seok, with eight wings, looked down at Seo Eun-hyun and laughed.
“Come on, take this!”
Crash crash crash!
Scooping his hand out, Seo Eun-hyun’s expression changed.
The heaven and earth aura flickered.
And Seo Eun-hyun laughed as if in disbelief.
“A single strike from the Heavenly Person realm…?”
At the same time, light exploded, and light flashes covered the entire sky.
The Dragon Wings of Seo Eun-hyun and the Heavenly Feather Heavenly Pierce of Oh Hyun-seok collided!
Whoosh…
Oh Hyun-seok took a deep breath and stood up.
Cough!
He coughed up blood.
“Wh-what…”
Before him stood Seo Eun-hyun.
And Seo Eun-hyun looked a bit soothed and wounded, but he was much better off than Oh Hyun-seok.
“Why… am I the one wounded by your attacks?”
“Senior Oh hasn’t fought a curse master before. While fighting you, I collected blood and fed it to the ancient generals I made. Since you attacked the curse puppets yourself, you must have received quite the shock too.”
“…I see.”
“Still, Senior Oh has grown a lot. This level of pressure is something I haven’t felt in a long time, except from Master.”
“Shut up!”
Oh Hyun-seok shouted.
“You weren’t the one who called me ‘hyung’!”
He stood up and panted.
“Did you forget the memory of calling me ‘hyung’? Stop pretending you don’t know me like this!”
And he raised his aura.
Crash!
Four wings sprouted from his left side.
“Heavenly Feather Heavenly Pierce strikes twice!”
And Seo Eun-hyun assumed a stance with a bitter face.
Crash crash!
The strike Seo Eun-hyun had called a Heavenly Person-level Heavenly Feather Heavenly Pierce was fired at him again.
From behind Seo Eun-hyun, a forest of curse seals grew again.
Scooping his hand out, Seo Eun-hyun chanted.
“White Lotus Construct.”
Flash!
The curse seals reversed, blooming into pure white White Lotuses, and Seo Eun-hyun’s aura exploded.
Beyond consciousness, Seo Eun-hyun’s martial art rang out again.
Stomp the Sky, Invisible Sword!
Whoosh!
That was it.
“…”
Oh Hyun-seok’s Heavenly Feather Heavenly Pierce split into two halves and exploded on both sides behind Seo Eun-hyun.
Scooping his hand out, Seo Eun-hyun still had no damage.
“…You’ve worked hard. That was an impressive spar. Now…”
And.
Oh Hyun-seok shouted.
“Not yet!”
Crash crash crash!
Aura surged from Oh Hyun-seok’s body.
“It’s not over!”
And Oh Hyun-seok opened the Jeomuldo and pulled out something from it.
It was a water pouch.
And from the water pouch came a liquid glowing with golden light, with a mysterious feeling.
“The Lake of Bright Spirits… With that much, the price would be astronomical…”
At the same time, Oh Hyun-seok’s eyes lit up.
“This life force… it matches me perfectly. And also.”
Crash crash!
Dark clouds began gathering in the sky.
Scooping his hand out, Seo Eun-hyun shivered.
“Wait, what are you trying to do?”
“Today!”
Oh Hyun-seok shouted with eyes shining.
“I’m going to beat you!”
Crash crash crash!
His aura amplified.
At the same time, blue lightning fell from the sky.
And next to the blue lightning, golden lightning fell too.
Two-colored Heavenly Lightning!
A Core Formation Grand Completion cultivator being struck by Heavenly Lightning again.
That meant he was challenging the Nascent Soul realm.
Crackle!
Oh Hyun-seok took the two lines of lightning and began walking toward Seo Eun-hyun step by step.
“This madman, it’s too dangerous! Don’t come, just sit and circulate your technique!”
But Oh Hyun-seok ignored him and walked slowly toward Seo Eun-hyun.
Crash, crash, crash!
The land cracked under the Heavenly Lightning, turning to glass.
But in the midst of this immense heavenly punishment, Oh Hyun-seok reached Seo Eun-hyun.
Scooping his hand out, Seo Eun-hyun gritted his teeth.
“…Do you have that resolve?”
And Seo Eun-hyun assumed a stance.
“…I’ll come again.”
Oh Hyun-seok said nothing.
Calmly drawing up power in the Heavenly Lightning.
“White Lotus Construct.”
A circuit from the Goe-gun stretched over Seo Eun-hyun’s body.
At the same time, the power of the Construct amplified his strength.
He grabbed the invisible sword and formed a seal at maximum power.
Flash!
Behind Seo Eun-hyun’s back, three wings sprouted.
“I’m also Master’s disciple. Of course I can use it. I just didn’t use it until now.”
Crack!
The blue aura concentrated in Seo Eun-hyun’s hand mixed with the invisible sword, becoming even sharper.
And, taking the Heavenly Tribulation, Oh Hyun-seok raised his fist.
Scooping his hand out, Seo Eun-hyun blinked.
“Purple?”
Oh Hyun-seok’s body boiled with purple light.
Scooping his hand out, Seo Eun-hyun felt momentary confusion for the first time.
“What is that?”
After reaching Stomp the Sky, Seo Eun-hyun had gained absolute confidence.
His invisible sword could “break” anything.
There were things he couldn’t break, but that was only because his personal output was insufficient.
Theoretically, there was nothing his sword couldn’t break.
But Seo Eun-hyun felt confusion for the first time.
“Can’t break!”
The thing in front of him clearly couldn’t be broken!
“It feels like an endless chaos.”
Can my sword break chaos?
Scooping his hand out, Seo Eun-hyun pondered his sword.
And, eyes shining, looked at Oh Hyun-seok.
“I can handle the unhandleable, but it’s still one human—Oh Hyun-seok. Then…”
Scooping his hand out, Seo Eun-hyun’s eyes predicted thousands, billions of trajectories between him and Oh Hyun-seok.
“I’ll find the weakest point, no matter what!”
Whoosh!
Wings sprouted from behind Oh Hyun-seok again.
Purple wings.
Five pairs of wings sprouted from behind Oh Hyun-seok.
“Primordial Unity, Heavenly Pierce!”
Crash crash crash!
Oh Hyun-seok thrust his fist!
The purple aura flew at Seo Eun-hyun.
And at the same time, Seo Eun-hyun swung his invisible sword.
“Cut the Peak!”
Crash crash!
Thousands of slash strikes shot toward Oh Hyun-seok.
Pure white slashes and purple fist strikes collided.
Crash crash crash!
White and purple!
The two colors split the heaven and earth in an instant.
Crash, crash crash!
And the purple began to gradually suppress the white.
Gradually, the white slashes began to break apart.
The purple storm advanced!
Just as the purple storm was about to devour the white slashes completely!
Crash!
The Heavenly Tribulation that had been falling at Oh Hyun-seok finally stopped.
Oh Hyun-seok had obtained the Primordial Spirit!
Flash!
Light from heaven and earth shone on Oh Hyun-seok for a moment, and his momentum strengthened!
But at the same time, the aura of the Primordial Unity he had been wearing also vanished.
“Whoaaa!”
Crash crash!
Nascent Soul!
Finally, Oh Hyun-seok, who had reached the Nascent Soul realm, poured even more power into his fist.
But.
Once the white light disappeared, the purple aura began devouring Oh Hyun-seok’s domain again.
Oh Hyun-seok’s domain shrank, chunks being cut away by the white slashes.
“Take!”
Finally!
Crash!
The two domains exploded instantly, sending light flashes.
Whoosh…
Where Oh Hyun-seok and Seo Eun-hyun had been.
A huge crater the size of thirty li appeared.
Truly a heavenly calamity!
The center of the heavenly calamity.
Two people stood there.
“Haha, damn it…”
“…”
“Stubborn.”
Oh Hyun-seok let out a hearty laugh.
Scooping his hand out, Seo Eun-hyun had blood armor all over his body.
He had poured a lot into this strike too!
Both men panted.
But Oh Hyun-seok still had five wings on his left side.
“…Heavenly Feather Heavenly Pierce strikes twice. But you threw all of them into that one strike.”
“…”
“If I hit you with this, I win.”
Scooping his hand out, Seo Eun-hyun spat blood and said.
“If I hit you…”
“Can’t you hit me?”
Scooping his hand out, Seo Eun-hyun looked at Oh Hyun-seok with transparent eyes.
Oh Hyun-seok looked back with clear, confident eyes.
No more words were needed.
Both charged.
Whoosh!
Scooping his hand out, Seo Eun-hyun caught transparent emptiness.
He smiled.
“The exchange just now, I clearly won.”
Oh Hyun-seok had taken far more internal damage!
“With Mountain Beyond Mountain is Endless, I can use the invisible sword at full power regardless of my condition. Before you hit me, use Mountain Beyond Mountain…”
Flash!
Oh Hyun-seok’s fist and Seo Eun-hyun’s martial art collided again!
The explosion wasn’t as huge as before.
Oh Hyun-seok had also poured a lot of power into that one strike, just as he had said.
The explosion was small.
But in that small explosion, they exchanged countless thoughts and attempted a counterattack.
“I win!”
Scooping his hand out, Seo Eun-hyun blocked Oh Hyun-seok’s consciousness.
Without needing to apply high-level realms above Core Formation, even at the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown level, Oh Hyun-seok, who could only see two colors, was still below him!
Oh Hyun-seok gritted his teeth.
“I’m being pushed back.”
“Am I going to lose?”
“Yes.”
Oh Hyun-seok lowered his heart.
Scooping his hand out, Seo Eun-hyun was a much stronger opponent who had reached Nascent Soul but still needed a lot more training to win.
Even now, he felt he hadn’t given his full strength.
If he had really used dirty and cowardly methods to “spar” instead of “fight,” Oh Hyun-seok would have died countless times.
“It’s a pity. I just wanted to know why you changed so much…”
And.
The next moment, blue and red lines began overlapping in Oh Hyun-seok’s eyes.
“…!”
The two lines were the first colors he had ever seen after entering the world of consciousness.
Purple!
A purple line existed between Seo Eun-hyun and Oh Hyun-seok.
Through the purple line, Oh Hyun-seok could somewhat understand Seo Eun-hyun’s intentions.
At the same time, he could feel the worries Seo Eun-hyun had hidden.
And, following the purple line, Oh Hyun-seok squeezed every bit of power and swung his opposite hand toward Seo Eun-hyun’s blind spot.
At the same time!
Crash!
Oh Hyun-seok’s fist finally hit Seo Eun-hyun’s face—completely unprotected for the first time!
“Seo Eun-hyun!”
Crunch, crunch, crunch!
Seo Eun-hyun’s microscopic carelessness that had been recognized as at the peak of martial realm!
That single moment of carelessness had allowed Oh Hyun-seok’s fist to land!
“I win!”
Crash crash crash!
Starlight, blue light, five-colored light surged into Oh Hyun-seok’s fist.
At the same time, Seo Eun-hyun’s face began to crush.
“I won!!!”
Crash crash crash!!!
Scooping his hand out, Seo Eun-hyun’s head exploded!
Scooping his hand out, Seo Eun-hyun sat down helplessly, head shattered, neck gone.
After spending tens of years in this world.
The fist of Oh Hyun-seok, who had trained only to stand equal to Seo Eun-hyun, had won against him.
Whoosh…
Twitch, twitch…
The head of Seo Eun-hyun, who had reached the Core Formation Grand Completion realm, began to regenerate.
Crunch!
Scooping his hand out, Seo Eun-hyun fell to the ground with a large back.
“Phew… That was tough.”
“…Congratulations on reaching the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown.”
Twitch, twitch…
Regenerating his face, Seo Eun-hyun looked at the sky.
“…Thank you. At the very end, I felt your consciousness a little. Probably only we, who are like you, could know that fact without Master knowing.”
Oh Hyun-seok looked at Seo Eun-hyun with a complicated expression and asked.
“…Do you not know who I am?”
“…Haha.”
Scooping his hand out, Seo Eun-hyun laughed.
Flow…
Tears flowed from his eyes.
“…I do know. Senior Oh… No, Oh hyung… How kind a person you are. How trustworthy.”
Scooping his hand out, Seo Eun-hyun continued.
“I know you’re a good person. That’s why I couldn’t speak until now. Oh hyung, I can’t remember who you are. Most of the things from before I can’t recall at all.”
Scooping his hand out, Seo Eun-hyun covered his face and laughed bitterly.
“…It must be dementia.”
Oh Hyun-seok’s hyung being a good person was something he knew too well.
But because of that.
Because he still vaguely remembered the warm words he had heard from that person long ago and the good memories he had built with that person,
He couldn’t speak properly to Oh Hyun-seok.
I now couldn’t remember most things from before the first loop.
I couldn’t remember which world I came from.
I couldn’t remember what kind of person I was.
I couldn’t remember what kind of relationships I had with my colleagues.
Memories were gradually sinking deeper.
That was why until now I had pushed away Oh Hyun-seok’s attempts to talk to me, maintaining a cold and detached attitude.
Talking to him would make me more painfully aware that the good memories I had with him were gone.
That empty feeling as if the roots were gone was eating away at my mind.
So I had kept my distance from Oh Hyun-seok.
“…I’m sorry, Oh hyung.”
Knock, knock, knock!
And Oh Hyun-seok walked toward the fallen me.
“Well, it’s okay.”
Oh Hyun-seok helped me up.
“Now that you know, we can slowly figure it out.”
He smiled kindly.
“From today, call me Hyun-seok hyung. No matter what, I’ll help you find a way to remember together.”
“…Yes, hyung.”
I answered, looking at Oh Hyun-seok with a boisterous smile exactly like Master’s.