Thunderbolt (4)
I swung the Invisible Sword toward the sky almost on instinct.
Whoosh!
Crack!
The Invisible Sword, having reached the Answer Heaven realm, sliced through the lightning bolt falling from the sky.
“Hand Myeong-hoon over.”
Before I could do anything, Geum Byeok-ho stretched out his hand. An attractive force erupted from his palm and dragged Jeon Myeong-hoon away.
Grabbing Jeon Myeong-hoon by the head, Geum Byeok-ho clicked his tongue and poured strength into his grip.
At the same moment, the Gigoego I had placed in Jeon Myeong-hoon’s upper dantian burned away completely.
Zap!
Because the technique had been formed from a fragment of my consciousness, the burning of the Gigoego sent a sharp pain lancing through my mind.
“Now then, shall we have a proper conversation?”
Why did it feel this way?
The man before me was only at the early stage of Four Pillars and had not even formed a single pillar.
Yet the Geum Byeok-ho holding the Heavenly Thunder Banner felt far more overwhelming than Gyu-ryeon or Seo Hyoel.
Whirr!
I could see the intent flowing from the Heavenly Thunder Banner communicating with Geum Byeok-ho.
The next instant, Geum Byeok-ho swung the banner again.
Rumble!
The sky flashed brilliantly.
In the following moment, I saw over a hundred bolts of lightning plummeting toward me.
‘This lunatic…!’
Kwaaaang!
I coughed up blood and was hurled into the sky.
The pure spiritual power of the Nascent Soul realm, a body tempered by beast-refining arts, skin further reinforced by Black Dragon True Blood, and the Invisible Sword flowing through my entire body at the Answer Heaven realm—only their combined strength let me survive.
I looked down at the spot where the hundred bolts had struck.
The place where I had stood, right in front of Geum Byeok-ho, had become a massive valley.
It was no ordinary valley.
‘Spatial rifts…!’
Each of those lightning strikes carried power equal to a Four Pillars cultivator’s full-force blow.
Even so, I could tell Geum Byeok-ho was not using his full strength.
‘I have to run.’
As long as he held the Heavenly Thunder Banner, I had no chance of victory.
Flash!
I slashed through the void and activated Wansuigungmurok.
Geum Byeok-ho looked momentarily startled when I vanished before his eyes, then smirked and swung the banner once more.
And then—
Rumble!
The entire sky turned azure, and the area within a ten-li radius filled with lightning.
“…!”
Wansuigungmurok was not true teleportation; it relied on deceiving the opponent’s perception.
In other words, it was useless against an indiscriminate wide-area technique that cared nothing for perception.
Suppressing my trembling bones, I drew up the Black Dragon True Blood.
Crack, crackle!
Black horns sprouted from my forehead. Black scales emerged across my body.
At the same time, something bulged near my hips, a tail burst forth, and my limbs sharpened into beast-like claws.
Rumble!
I summoned pitch-black clouds to surround me and rode them in a desperate escape.
After tearing space itself with my rank and entering the void, I combined the flight arts of the Heavenly Race, the gliding techniques of the Earth Race, and the Answer Heaven Invisible Sword into one, shooting forward at blinding speed.
Yet behind me, thunder roared and a golden light began to pursue.
[Stop right there!!!]
Geum Byeok-ho’s stern voice shook the void as he chased me at lightning speed.
Whoosh!
When he swung the Heavenly Thunder Banner again, the empty void filled with blue lightning.
“…!”
Crackle!
I clenched my teeth and pressed forward through the lightning.
Grind!
At the same time, the attractive force of a Four Pillars cultivator pulled me toward him, steadily closing the distance.
‘This won’t work.’
If this continued, I would truly be caught and killed!
Sensing mortal danger, I flew toward Cheonin-do.
Rumble!
Along the way I was struck by lightning several more times, flying with everything I had.
‘Am I really going to die like this?’
The lightning Geum Byeok-ho scattered was truly terrifying.
Heavenly Tribulation at least adjusted its power to the target’s realm, but Geum Byeok-ho rained down Four Pillars-level strikes without hesitation.
Rumble!
Struck by blue lightning once more in the void, I let out a hollow laugh, half out of my mind.
‘If I were to die in this life, I thought it would be at Seo Hyoel’s hands…’
Unexpectedly, I was about to die at Geum Byeok-ho’s hands without even having properly obtained the Heavenly Thunder Banner.
If only I had kept the banner out of his reach, I might have stood a chance.
But I had been defeated by the absurdity that only members of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect could wield it.
‘Well… this isn’t so bad either.’
Rumble!
‘At least… I did everything I could…’
Just before my consciousness sank completely, a strange vibration rang through my head.
No—calling it a vibration was inaccurate.
I had “seen” it.
‘What is this strange…’
Something was speaking to me.
‘A strange voice?’
“Hah!”
I jolted awake.
On a hunch, I looked behind me.
And sure enough, the “voice” was coming from the direction of the pursuing Geum Byeok-ho.
It was not a voice.
It was a third, entirely new sense, like the sight of the Heavenly Eye or the sight of intent.
I had always called it “sight” because I had no other word for it, but in truth it was not seeing—it was feeling.
This “voice” conveyed meaning in the same way.
More precisely, I could perceive the intent behind the voice.
‘Is it because I possess the sight of Answer Heaven?’
I could “hear” words.
—Save me.
It was the Heavenly Thunder Banner speaking.
—Save me.
‘I didn’t mishear.’
The banner kept repeating the same plea.
It begged to be saved.
My instincts whispered.
Speak to the Heavenly Thunder Banner.
That was the only way to survive!
“Kugh!”
I stopped in the void, enduring the falling lightning.
Geum Byeok-ho, who had been chasing me, smiled coldly and raised the banner.
“How surprising. You intend to face me while I hold the Heavenly Thunder Banner?”
“Hah…!”
I focused my mind even further.
Then I concentrated my consciousness on the Heavenly Thunder Banner.
‘I cannot see its mental image, but I can see its intent.’
In other words, Heart Speech might work!
Through Heart Speech, I conveyed my will to the banner.
—How do you want me to save you?
The banner answered at once.
—Liberate me… from the descendants of Geumsinja…
—I cannot even see you with my eyes, let alone capture you.
—I will tell you my true name. Strongly chant my true name and grasp me. Then you will be able to hold me…
The banner’s true name?
There was no need to think.
—Tell me!
Through the banner’s intent, its [name] was driven into my mind.
—The essence of the Great Heavenly Punishment, Jeong-ryeo.
‘Jeong-ryeo!’
I chanted the banner’s name deeply and faced Geum Byeok-ho.
‘I only have one chance.’
Crackle!
Goe-gun’s circuits spread across my entire body.
The primal energy I had collected while fleeing from Geum Byeok-ho also melted into me as Blood Body Armor.
Then I opened my mouth to probe him.
“By any chance, do you know the true name of the Heavenly Thunder Banner, Taesang-jangmun?”
“Hmm?”
Geum Byeok-ho seemed surprised by the question and chuckled.
“It is the Heavenly Thunder Banner. What nonsense are you spouting?”
“…”
He did not know.
In a way, that worked in my favor.
‘Even if an outsider like me obtains Jeong-ryeo, he will not realize it.’
It meant I could startle him for a moment.
“Regardless, why did you, who followed the Sea Dragon King, suddenly appear and attempt to steal our sect’s disciple and sacred relic? You will need to be thoroughly interrogated. If you confess honestly now, I may show leniency.”
“Confess honestly…”
I smiled bitterly and met Geum Byeok-ho’s gaze head-on.
“The moment you brought the Heavenly Thunder Banner into the Middle Realm, did you not realize your Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect was in grave danger?”
“What?”
“The stele of your founder Yang Su-jin floating in Deungsunhyang clearly states that one must not ascend while holding the Heavenly Thunder Banner. At the Four Pillars realm, dimensional travel is entirely possible, so it would not hurt to return and check.”
“What kind of drivel is that?”
As expected, it did not work.
“The contents of the stele in Deungsunhyang have been passed down within our sect as well. To descend with a calm heart—that is what the stele says. How dare a wretch like you presume to lecture us!”
“…?”
Something was wrong.
The transmission of the stele’s contents had been distorted.
‘The oral tradition was passed down incorrectly!’
As long as he believed his version was correct, there was nothing I could do.
“…Do you know of the shrine that once housed Yang Su-jin’s stele? During Yang Su-jin’s lifetime, the shrine built in the Jungnyeong Holy Kingdom fell into the Dabcheon Desert, and the other half of his stele fell with it.”
And that place was Won Rip’s Black Castle.
“I swear upon the reputation and character of the Sea Dragon King Seo Hyoel whom I respect—my words are not lies!”
“Ugh…! You swear upon the Sea Dragon King’s name…?”
At the mention of Seo Hyoel’s name, Geum Byeok-ho frowned, visibly shaken.
“…Could it be that you came to steal the Heavenly Thunder Banner at the Sea Dragon King’s behest?”
“Yes, that is correct. The Sea Dragon King discovered ancient records regarding Yang Su-jin in the Earth Race’s territory. After conducting several investigations based on those records, he concluded that the Heavenly Thunder Banner must not remain with the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect and dispatched me to retrieve it at once.”
Geum Byeok-ho fell silent for a moment.
Then he shook his head and shouted firmly.
“Lies. The righteous and honorable Sea Dragon King Seo Hyoel I know would have invited me sincerely, revealed the truth, and given me a warning. He would never stoop to stealing from another sect while meddling in their affairs!”
‘As expected, he does not believe me.’
Since I had no idea what kind of relationship Seo Hyoel had maintained with Geum Byeok-ho, Heo Gwak, or Changhoza, even fabricating a story was difficult.
But it did not matter.
Simply hearing that Seo Hyoel had said such things to me had already shaken him.
Yes, “shaken” was enough.
Flash!
The Answer Heaven Invisible Sword enveloping my body turned golden in an instant.
‘Revive.’
The light rays of Neunggwang!
Flash!
For a single instant.
I became a blade faster than lightning, surpassing even light itself, and charged at Geum Byeok-ho.
In that fleeting moment, as though time itself had been split, I strongly chanted Jeong-ryeo’s name and succeeded in seizing the transparent banner in Geum Byeok-ho’s hand!
Crackle!
An enormous current surged upward, yet unlike before, I could clearly feel a tangible form!
Crunch!
Still gripping the Heavenly Thunder Banner, I retreated and escaped.
Bang!
The time it took to blink halfway.
No—in truth, an even shorter instant.
In that instant, I had transformed the Answer Heaven Invisible Sword into the Answer Heaven Neunggwang Blade, split time itself, and stolen the Heavenly Thunder Banner.
“Uwek, gahak! Kugh!”
Whether from the backlash of forcibly changing the Invisible Sword, blood spurted from all seven orifices and my sturdy body shook violently, but I had succeeded!
“Gahaha, gahahaha!”
Geum Byeok-ho’s pupils shook madly.
I burst into laughter, split the void once more, and returned to the present realm.
“Huu…”
Amid dense spiritual energy, Cheonin-do appeared in the distance.
Behind me, Geum Byeok-ho roared in fury and tore through space to emerge.
“You bastard!!!”
Still holding the Heavenly Thunder Banner, I flew toward Cheonin-do and laughed.
‘Now, I’m almost there!!!’
That was when it happened.
Whisper, whisper, whisper…
A certain whisper tickled my ears.
It was the whisper of the Heavenly Thunder Banner.
—What is it? What is happening?
The banner trembled as though overcome with emotion.
—Thank you for freeing me from the descendants of Geumsinja who tormented me. There is one more favor I must ask.
—A favor?
—Call… call my name. With your voice.
—…?
It was an extremely bizarre request.
‘Is there something to it?’
Suspecting the banner might be plotting something, I looked up at the sky and read the heavenly secrets.
Nothing unusual appeared.
My fortune was stable.
—Why do you want me to call your name?
—For tens of thousands of years, no one in the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect has spoken to me. It has been a terribly lonely time. Please call my name. I beg you—call my name.
Simply because no one had called its name, it felt lonely?
I checked the heavenly secrets once more.
Even when I imagined myself calling its name, the reading remained unchanged.
Calling the name or not would not alter fate.
‘Well, if it simply wants its name spoken…’
I nodded at the banner’s lonely intent.
Thud!
At the same time, my body became a sword and pierced through Cheonin-do’s barrier, entering the city.
Now all I had to do was step onto the teleportation array leading to the Lake of Bright Spirits, and the plan would essentially be complete.
I shot toward the teleportation array bound for the Lake of Bright Spirits, arrived in front of it, and decided to grant the banner’s wish.
Taah!
Standing atop the array, I called the banner’s name.
“Jeong-ryeo.”
At the same moment, I looked at the approaching Geum Byeok-ho in the distance and activated the teleportation array.
“Farewell. I will keep the Heavenly Thunder Banner somewhere safe.”
The array flashed and began to transport me!
“…”
Yet nothing happened.
“Huu, huhuhu… I finally caught you, you damned thief. It was truly by a hair’s breadth.”
Whirr—
Geum Byeok-ho, breathing heavily, stepped into the teleportation array.
I broke into a cold sweat and looked around.
‘The array isn’t working…!’
“Since your claim of being the Sea Dragon King’s subordinate also seems to be a lie, I will first use the traditional punishment of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect and roast you on a lightning spear for a hundred days. After that…”
“Geum Taesang-jangmun.”
“Are you afraid? But the crime of stealing our sect’s disciple and sacred relic…”
“Taesang-jangmun!”
I shouted at the top of my lungs, my body trembling.
Shhh—
The light of the teleportation array was fading.
At the same time, with the eyes of the Earth Race, I saw the flow of heaven-and-earth spiritual energy twisting unnaturally.
“I knew you were mad, but to still be shouting in this situation… Ugh…!”
Gush!
While approaching me, Geum Byeok-ho staggered and vomited a mouthful of blood.
No—that was not all.
Ugh…!
Blood also gushed from my own seven orifices, and I felt the blood throughout my body boiling violently.
‘W-what is happening!’
The flow of heaven-and-earth yin and yang was becoming entangled.
The principles of the world were flowing arbitrarily.
Kwaaang!
I punched through the ceiling of the teleportation building and looked up at the sky.
My eyes widened.
The heavenly secrets that had been perfectly normal just moments ago were now wildly twisting!
“Uh, uhh…?”
—Thank you. Truly, thank you. I am so grateful.
The next moment, endless words of gratitude echoed from the Heavenly Thunder Banner.
—Finally, I can return to my rightful master…
“W-what is this…”
—Thank you. Thank you so much. To speak a name aloud is to speak fate aloud. Because that act of fate “speaking” has resounded throughout the Three Thousand Worlds… my master will be able to find me at any moment!
Zap, zap, zap…!
At the same time, through the violently distorted flow of yin and yang.
Lightning energy began to appear.
It started as static electricity clinging to the body.
But the static grew stronger, generating powerful electricity.
Soon, lightning began to rage not only around me but between every building and pedestrian atop Cheonin-do.
“A… aaah…”
I sincerely regretted learning the banner’s name.
I should never have spoken it aloud.
I should never have learned knowledge that was never meant to be known.
Flash—
The sky split in two and “opened.”
Beyond the opened sky, an enormous “eye” that filled the entire heavens began to gaze down upon Cheonin-do.
A True Immortal, crossing distant dimensions, began to peer down upon this land with its true body.