The Unforgivable
I filled my palm-sized flying technique with spiritual energy.
**Whoosh!**
As the spiritual energy entered it, the flying technique expanded in size, took on color, and transformed into a wooden boat shape.
“Let’s go.”
I leaped onto the wooden boat, infused it with spiritual energy while forming a hand seal, and at the same time, a talisman rose from the wooden boat as it shot through the air at high speed.
***
Three days later.
I arrived at the border between Byeokra Kingdom and Yeon Kingdom using the flying technique.
‘At the Qi Condensation level, this flying technique is fast enough to match a regular ship...’
To achieve speeds comparable to a flying carriage or something more, it would likely need Foundation Establishment level flying techniques or the self-taught Flying Escape Technique of a Core Formation expert.
After enjoying the scenery while wind whipped past on the flying technique,
I scanned my surroundings.
“There he is.”
**Flash!**
The instant I confirmed my opponent, a dazzling Sword Qi shot toward me like lightning.
I swung my hand, sending my own Sword Qi flying out.
The two Sword Qis danced in the air like snakes, clashing for several exchanges. Afterward,
the Sword Qi that had shot toward me was completely neutralized.
**Whoosh!**
I kicked off into the air, propelled downward using the Heavenly Sovereign Technique to descend slowly.
“Long time no see.”
“Yeah, you’ve gotten a little better at sword control since the last time.”
“I never stop practicing sword control.”
Swordsman is not just moving a sword through the air.
It is to raise the mastery over the sword far beyond Sword Qi to Sword Energy Integration, and beyond that.
Ultimately, to reach the state where one fully masters everything about the sword—
from the sound of the sword and the texture of its material to the momentum that erupts from one’s own martial arts itself, from Sword Qi and Sword Gang to every single thing completely perceived through consciousness!
That is what Sword Mastery is.
Therefore,
the moment one can perform Sword Mastery, even a Five Qi Consorting with the Origin martial artist can freely change the trajectory of Sword Gang in the air and manipulate it.
Of course, manipulating the dropped sword fundamentally involves slicing through the opponent’s consciousness from a distance to input it into the sword far away.
Judging high and low at the Five Qi Consorting with the Origin level depends on how naturally one can move the distant sword.
“But you are still far from enough. Train harder.”
“Yes, I will.”
I nodded, then stored away the flying technique that was still floating in the sky.
“Kim hyung... I heard you started learning the spiritual cultivation technique recently. It’s true.”
Looking at the pressure of spiritual energy he emitted and the size of his consciousness, I asked.
He smiled awkwardly and said,
“Well... since spiritual cultivation techniques are so convenient in real life... like flying techniques. Of course, even so it’s only at the second layer of Qi Condensation. I have no intention of going higher than that. I’m planning to use it only as an aid to martial arts...
Rather than relying on these miscellaneous items, sharpening my own martial arts will be much more useful to me.”
“I see...”
My martial talent was the greatest in history, and his aptitude for spiritual cultivation techniques was similar to mine.
But he had no master like me, and he himself was still at the second layer of Qi Condensation because he focused more on martial arts than spiritual cultivation.
‘And he seems to have started recently... At the second layer of Qi Condensation, that’s actually better talent than me by a tiny margin.’
Kim Young-hoon, while chatting about how he almost went crazy learning the Seventy-Two Killings Incantation, asked me with a worried look.
“By the way, are you really okay with this? Accepting such an outrageous request?”
“It doesn’t matter. I’m happy to gain merit with the Cheongmun Clan, and I also agree with Kim hyung’s opinion.”
“...Yeah. Thank you. Those bastards... It would be better if even one of them disappeared from this world sooner.”
Although the Makri clan had taken the Yeon Kingdom’s imperial decree from the Jin clan, the Makri clan had only lost the right to officially replace the common people of Yeon Kingdom and the lower forces that were Yeon Kingdom itself.
The main branch of the Makri clan had not received any catastrophic blows.
Of course, since the imperial decree was tied to the clan’s honor, the Makri clan’s prestige would inevitably suffer.
But excluding honor, the Makri clan that lost so little was still stronger than before.
They were slaughtering criminals all over Yeon Kingdom and carrying out that dirty business.
After searching for the imperial decree, the Jin clan stopped interfering with the Makri clan’s affairs.
And while clashing with each other and dying was no big deal for the Qi Condensation disciples unless it was the late stages, the Foundation Establishment elders who were the main power of the clan were released along with rewards even if captured.
For that reason, Kim Young-hoon had very little that he could do for righteousness after the Jin clan found the imperial decree.
But he didn’t give up. He dug into the gaps in the alliances between the Jin clan, the Makri clan, and the spiritual cultivation clans of neighboring kingdoms.
“...From what I learned, in Yeon Kingdom, when Foundation Establishment disciples of the Jin and Makri clans clash and get captured, the clan pays compensation and releases them.
But if a disciple invades the territory of another country, even if they are Foundation Establishment, they say they could be killed by the disciples of the other country’s spiritual cultivation clan.”
He smiled slyly.
“I will drive a Makri clan disciple to the Byeokra Kingdom border in a few days. Then, when I drain his strength, you come in and chop off the Makri disciple’s head. That way, I can dispose of the dirty bastard. You killing a Makri disciple who invaded Byeokra Kingdom’s territory means there’s no problem with justification!”
“Yes, that’s definitely right.”
Kim Young-hoon excitedly explained his plan, and I calmly listened to it.
After hearing all his plans from him, I made one request.
“Kim hyung, I gave you the Wolswolmurok before, right?”
“Yeah, that ultimate martial art you gave me has taken me steadily to the peak of Deungbongjogeuk. And with the annotations I added while analyzing the Wolswolmurok...”
“So, given your personality, you probably still have the manual I annotated with annotations in it... Could you let me read it?”
“Um, well, no problem.”
Kim Young-hoon had apparently prepared a new flying technique this time, and from the fist-sized pouch at his waist, he took out a thick book.
The Wolswolmurok was definitely thicker than when I had given it to him before.
“The title hasn’t changed.”
If he had added that much content, he would have changed the title to leave his own mark, but...
Kim Young-hoon gave a bitter smile and spoke.
“I couldn’t change it... I followed this martial arts manual as it was until now, adding only occasional annotations. I added a few contents, but I only recorded trial and error for going beyond Deungbongjogeuk to the next realm.
I only copied a few lines of annotations and a few lines of trial and error. I couldn’t surpass this martial arts manual. How could I, with such shamelessness, change the title of this martial arts manual at will.”
“...From the thickness, it looks like it’s more than just a few lines of trial and error.”
The book’s thickness had become four times what it was when I first gave it to him.
It wasn’t just annotations or a few lines of trial and error.
Kim Young-hoon had poured all his mental energy into trial and error, trying with all his might to surpass the Wolswolmurok again.
“Well, even if it’s thicker, I failed anyway.”
“Still, this would be different from the previous Wolswolmurok... Could you at least change the title a little to distinguish it?”
“If that’s the case...”
He let out a self-mocking laugh.
“Change it from Wolswolmurok to Woldowolmurok.”
Whether Wolswolmurok or Woldowolmurok, the meaning of transcending the cultivator hadn’t changed.
But he had changed only one character—a title that wasn’t much different in meaning from before.
‘It’s a bit of a shame...’
Since he didn’t want to change it anymore, what could I do?
I read and memorized the entire book.
Whether because I had become a cultivator and my head had improved from reciting the Seventy-Two Killings Incantation and other laws, or because spiritual cultivation techniques originally improve one’s mind by expanding consciousness when learned,
I felt that my memorization ability had become very good lately.
The thick book that I had to read and read and read many times to memorize even in my previous life was now input into my brain instantly after just one reading.
“Well, then wait here for a few days. I’ll drive the Makri clan disciple to the Byeokra Kingdom border...”
“Then I’ll wait.”
I sat down and calmed my body condition.
Kim Young-hoon handed me the Woldowolmurok saying to read it if I wanted, then took out his own flying technique and flew toward Yeon Kingdom.
“...The weather is nice.”
Using the astronomical knowledge I learned from my master, the sky would be clear by the time Kim Young-hoon had said.
“Then, while Kim hyung is gone, let’s slowly organize and write...”
I climbed onto a suitable flat rock, spread a small basic formation around it to prevent anyone from approaching, and
took out a desk, a sheet of paper,
and ink, brush, and inkstone.
I began writing the last will that I would leave for my master.
Even though Kim Young-hoon would drain the strength of the Foundation Establishment disciple,
they were not just gambling for the Foundation Establishment position.
Each one was an existence beyond human, monsters that could never be ignored.
Even if their strength was drained, my life would be in danger.
But I didn’t care.
I had come here to die.
A disciple who spends his entire life trying but achieves nothing and is simply rejected by the heavens,
and dies like that.
I couldn’t even imagine how much pain and despair a master would feel.
How regretful and powerless I myself had been for not providing any proper path to my disciples in my previous life.
How hateful I myself had been for not doing anything.
But if a disciple foolishly fights an opponent beyond his station and dies in battle,
even if the opponent is regretful and sad,
the master won’t resent himself.
Therefore, I would not die a fate predetermined by heaven.
After all, I was a life soon to die.
I would die foolishly after fighting a reckless opponent I could not defeat.
I had decided.
Swish, swish...
I slowly wrote the will.
Even though it was a will, I could not let my master know that I had come to die.
Therefore, I had intended to deliver the final words in the form of patrolling the Byeokra Kingdom border and inquiring about my master’s well-being.
After writing and erasing my will several times,
I finally managed to write a will that I was satisfied with.
“This... when would be the best time to send it.”
Using a transmission talisman, a small object with little volume, mass, and spiritual energy could be transmitted to the designated target.
The transmission talisman’s speed was roughly similar to the flying technique, so if I sent it to my master now, it would arrive in three days.
‘...Sending it before starting the battle would be most appropriate.’
If sent now, my master would use astronomical calculations and prepare an invitation near the border so that I could use my consciousness there.
After the battle started, my lifespan would end in a few days. If the letter reached my master three days after the battle began, my master would not have to witness his disciple’s death in front of him.
‘Yeah, that’s how we’ll do it.’
I folded the letter neatly, attached the transmission talisman, and made sure it could be delivered to my master by simply infusing spiritual energy at any time.
And several days passed.
The day Kim Young-hoon had promised had come.
**Koo-lung, koo-rung...**
From far away, a large ink-colored cloud filled with yin energy was approaching.
But its scale was much smaller than a normal celestial phenomenon, and it was artificial.
‘Here it comes...!’
The Foundation Establishment disciple of the Makri clan was bringing the cloud and coming here.
**Flash, flash!**
And behind him, lightning flashed as someone chased the Foundation Establishment elder.
It was Kim Young-hoon.
‘Now it begins.’
My last of this life.
A time to play happily once.
**Whoosh!**
I infused spiritual energy into the letter attached to the transmission talisman. The talisman glowed blue and changed into the shape of a blue eagle.
The blue eagle-shaped transmission talisman grabbed my letter and flew at an extremely fast speed toward the Cheongmun Clan direction.
I used Wolswolmurok to cut off the perception reaching me and erase my existence,
hid my consciousness completely with the hidden consciousness technique,
and unfolded the Earth Escape Technique recorded in Jiwol Ipdogyeol to hide underground.
And after a while.
**Koo-lung, koo-rung!**
**Shwaaa!**
The ink cloud covered the sky and began to rain around.
I hid underground and looked at the center of the ink cloud.
The Foundation Establishment disciple there had a strangely familiar face.
‘That guy...’
The time when I built the Demon Mountain Temple.
The Foundation Establishment disciple at the end of the line who had led fifty Foundation Establishment disciples to destroy the Demon Mountain Temple then!
The elderly Foundation Establishment elder.
Seeing his face, old memories came back one by one.
When I built the Demon Mountain Temple and fled from the wanted order issued by the disciples,
slaughtering the disciples one by one,
and finally, when I beat the Foundation Establishment extreme beginner disciple and rejoiced with Kim Young-hoon and the Demon Mountain Temple.
And the next day, when fifty Foundation Establishment disciples surrounded the Demon Mountain Temple and crushed it like exterminating pests.
The moment the Makri clan elder praised Kim Young-hoon as a worm and lured him.
The despair, regret, and pathetic helplessness of a weakling back then.
But.
At this moment now, there was no Foundation Establishment disciple as terrifying as back then.
**Kyuuk... This damn Jin clan bastards!**
With a distorted face, desperately swinging a law artifact shaped like a flag that moved the ink cloud’s energy,
wearing clothes torn like rags, and bleeding from his whole body.
There was only one prey.
“You... stop! According to the treaty between Jin and Makri clans, you cannot kill me! You want proper treatment as a prisoner! Stop attacking at once!”
“Hmph, open the barrier!”
“Yes, Lord!”
Some Qi Condensation disciples of the Jin clan swung the barrier flag behind Kim Young-hoon and spread a flame-filled barrier around.
The Makri clan elder was trapped in the barrier, and Kim Young-hoon flew toward him with a sly smile.
“When I brought a village of innocent criminals as a handful of blood, I felt no emotion... When my own life became dangerous, did I go into a frenzy? You trash... Die!”
**Paaat!**
Several Sword Qi flashed around Kim Young-hoon and flew toward the Makri clan elder.
“Don’t force it! Trying to kill a Foundation Establishment elder because you caught a few bugs as materials! You’ve made a big mistake! If I die, do you think you’ll be safe?!”
**Kwaaa!**
As the Makri clan elder swung the flag, the ink cloud in the sky moved.
The ink cloud gathered in the air and formed a Cloud Dragon, charging toward Kim Young-hoon.
‘Stronger than even Makri Hwang-shin...!’
I estimated his skill by looking at his spiritual cultivation technique.
Spiritual energy and the Foundation Establishment disciple’s law technique clashed back and forth.
And...
**Chwaaak!**
**Kyuuk...!**
A single line of yin wind shot by the Makri clan elder tore off Kim Young-hoon’s arm and waist.
At the same time, a Sword Qi shot by Kim Young-hoon broke the defense law technique and protective Sword Gang the Foundation Establishment elder had unfolded, and his waist was torn off like Kim Young-hoon.
‘That wound... is dangerous!’
Foundation Establishment disciples weren’t human, so they could survive such wounds.
But Kim Young-hoon had the body of an ordinary human at the initial level of second-layer Qi Condensation.
Hadn’t Kim Young-hoon actually passed out after receiving a wound like that from Makri Hwang-shin in my previous life?
But back then,
“Support Lord!”
“Quickly!”
The Qi Condensation disciples of the Jin clan who had spread the barrier each took out a handful of talismans from the desk.
**Flash, flash!**
Dozens, no, hundreds of healing talismans flew toward Kim Young-hoon’s wounds and stuck to him, and some Jin clan disciples used healing law techniques from beyond the barrier to sew up his wounds.
‘Ah, I see. They brought Qi Condensation disciples skilled in healing from the Jin clan as support troops.’
Kim Young-hoon’s wounds were completely healed again, and he began shooting Sword Qi with a healthy face once more.
“Hmph, hmph! You damn bastards!”
The Makri clan elder, glaring at him with a face turned red from anger, continued shooting law techniques to prevent Kim Young-hoon from approaching.
‘A much stronger disciple than Makri Hwang-shin.’
Surviving to that extent in a fight against perfectly supported Kim Young-hoon.
“You stupid Jin clan bastards! Do you not know what that outsider is doing?! He’s trying to break the treaty that the heads of the Makri and Jin clans personally made!
If you kill me, do you think you’ll be safe?! You bastards...”
The Makri clan elder spat a handful of blood and looked at the Qi Condensation disciples of the Jin clan.
But the Qi Condensation disciples only sneered, having apparently been warned by Kim Young-hoon in advance.
“Hah, shut up!”
“We won’t be punished for the treaty, and we’ll actually receive a reward for reducing the Makri clan’s strength.”
“You crazy ones... Right when the heads and elders were on edge because of the massacre that happened in the Dabcheon Desert, you commit the insane act of killing a Foundation Establishment elder! Do you think you’ll be safe...”
And until then, I, who had been hiding with bated breath.
Found a gap in the Makri clan elder’s defense.
‘Now!’
I focused my consciousness.
Refined the qi.
There was a gap, but it wasn’t large.
Therefore, I had to enlarge that gap even more!
Wolswolmurok, ultimate meaning.
‘Nojungromugong!’
**Paaaat!**
My consciousness, focused on a single point, shot toward the Makri clan elder at the speed of lightning.
At the same time, he grabbed his head and screamed.
**Kyaaaaa!**
**Hmph...!**
Kim Young-hoon, seeing that sight, also focused his consciousness and used the first strike of Nojungromugong on him!
The ultimate move of Nojungromugong wielded by two great masters!
It felt as if the head had been chopped to pieces.
‘I won’t miss!’
Danak Sword Art.
Deep Mountain!
Releasing all the qi I had gathered at once, I pierced the ground and shot straight into the sky.
In an instant, my figure dove into the Makri clan elder’s embrace.
‘Finished!’
**Flash!**
The brilliant Sword Gang of the pre-drawn sword was formed.
My Sword Gang swung toward the Makri clan elder from his embrace.
Normally, it would have quietly emitted protective Sword Gang with the pure qi power of the Foundation Establishment disciple.
But the protective Sword Gang of the Makri clan elder whose spiritual energy had been drained by fighting against Kim Young-hoon could not even match the defense law technique of a Qi Condensation disciple!
**Kwaang!**
My Sword Gang dug into his thinned protective Sword Gang and cut his neck.
‘I cut!’
And in the blink of an eye.
**Paaaat!**
Blue light burst from his embrace.
‘Rescue artifact!’