Chapter 28: Asura Twelve Forms (2)
Asura Twelve Forms.
It was the martial art handed down in the Sado Family, my clan. Like an asura swinging its sword, it drew ceaseless, bizarre trajectories, relentlessly hounding the opponent without respite.
How did you manage to execute that?
"Cough— First, let's calm down. I feel like I'm about to die."
My skull felt like it was splitting open, and a dull ache radiated through every joint in my body, as if my bones had been slightly dislocated. Especially my arms, which had clashed against the statue's sword—they were trembling like aspen leaves.
I couldn't do that twice. Honestly, I barely remembered what I'd done or how. It felt like pure luck. And it wasn't even that effective—just enough to push the statue back a bit. Yet here I was, seriously injured.
Damn it, if I was going to get possessed, why not into Un Yeop Ja? I could've just swung around some sword qi and called it a day.
Spread your qi throughout your body like filling it with water.
Following Pa Cheon's instructions, I circulated my internal energy. It spread rapidly through my body in response to my will. This was one thing I could be grateful for. Unlike other martial artists, who had to sit cross-legged, recite their heart formula, and meditate to circulate qi, I didn't need to. My will alone was enough to make it move on its own.
The Asura Demon Sovereign Divine Art is truly remarkable. No other art in the world moves qi with will alone.
Yeah, no.
This wasn't the power of the Asura Demon Sovereign Divine Art. Pa Cheon, who'd been fooled since childhood, didn't know, but this was actually the power of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
And it didn't end there.
"Hoo—."
The paths where my internal energy flowed were healing at a rapid pace. The excruciating pain began to subside. Even the swelling on my wrists visibly receded in real time.
Of course, it didn't fully resolve my internal injuries. I wasn't an expert on acupoints or anything, but a subtle abdominal ache—different from indigestion—lingered.
Magnificent, as expected.
I said no.
This recovery power was also from the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. It embodied the founding Heavenly Demon's eccentric philosophy that one bearing the name must fight without tiring. That was why meditation wasn't needed mid-battle either—could you really pause and circulate qi in the heat of combat? It was a mad idea that would shock anyone else, but it benefited me.
At any rate, it proved my body was tough.
"Phew, now I can breathe."
In about five minutes, I was recovered enough to stand.
So, what exactly happened?
"What do you mean? I just watched you and copied it."
…You copied me?
"That time before. On the moonlit night when you went crazy and unleashed Asura Twelve Forms all by yourself."
The night Pa Cheon had unleashed the forms alone to purge Dok So Gong's internal energy poison from itself. The night Dang Si Hyeok mistook me for a descendant of the Medicine Sage.
Pa Cheon had floated up alone and executed Asura Twelve Forms.
You saw that fragment and copied it? Impossible…
"No need to be so shocked. It was just a superficial imitation."
I jerked my chin toward the statues' debris.
"If Asura Twelve Forms had truly activated, what do you think would've happened to those?"
Well… I see. Now I understand.
If it had been the true power of Asura Twelve Forms, it wouldn't have just blocked the statues' attacks—it would've dismantled them. Endless slashes would have carved them apart relentlessly.
But all I'd managed was a single strike. Just one motion from the first form of Asura Twelve Forms, clumsily imitated.
At that level, sure.
Pa Cheon seemed convinced. It wasn't the full forms, just part of one form—a single awkward motion. In a neighborhood full of geniuses, even the neighbor's dog shit could pull that off.
Of course, it's still strange.
My talent was abysmal. Copying a move after seeing it once was impossible. In truth, I'd acted on impulse this time, my judgment clouded by shock.
That bizarre phenomenon.
Words had flashed in my mind. Text describing a scene from Return to the Murim. The part where genius Sado Hwan first manifested Asura Twelve Forms. Seeing it had perfected the single move I'd attempted.
I have no idea how that works.
And the treasure artifact on the altar—it wasn't what I knew. The one I remembered allowed even those without internal energy to use telepathy.
But this wasn't a treasure artifact.
A Strange Object.
Treasure artifacts had known origins from human craftsmanship; Strange Objects arose from incomprehensible supernatural phenomena.
A Jade.
Jade referred to a special type of Strange Object in the form of an orb. Strange Objects were rare enough, but Jades were exceptionally so—virtually unobtainable.
Even the Heavenly Demon's Secret Annals, packed with treasures, only lists two Jades.
It looked mysteriously exquisite. Like a transparent glass bead, but inside swirled a dark blue energy in endless vortices.
The key trait of a Jade was its ability to be 'absorbed.' Shatter it, and it merges with your body, granting special powers even to those without cultivation. If the absorber dies, it reforms as an orb. That's why it was a Strange Object, not a treasure artifact.
"At least it's a gain."
The issue is what kind of Jade.
No information about the Jade anywhere on the altar.
Jades were rare and special, yes. But not all were beneficial. Take the 'Golden Jade'—sounds great, but it turned everything it touched to gold.
…Straight out of Midas's hand, obviously.
This world came from the Return to the Murim author's mind, after all. It often borrowed from myths and legends. The Golden Jade was a prime example.
Anyway, Jades carried risks.
"Still, I should absorb it."
It's dangerous.
"Staying as I am is precarious too."
My abilities were mediocre. Fighting the statues had driven that home again. Black Ox Needle intimidation worked on decent experts, but not true masters.
To survive this world, I needed to bolster my skills in every way. If survival meant drinking poison, I'd down it gladly.
"Here goes."
I gripped the Jade hard.
Crack—!
With a sound like shattering glass, something bizarre happened. The dark blue energy inside billowed out like smoke, swirling around my right hand.
A faint prick, like a needle jab, stung the back of my right hand. Then the dark blue smoke was sucked into my skin.
A strange pattern etched itself on my hand like a tattoo—something like '>>>', pulsing with dark blue life.
It was invisible to others, a personal gauge. I knew that because...
"…Oh."
The moment the pattern formed, information about the Jade imprinted in my mind. Its basic function.
"Jackpot."
I'd lucked into an incredible Strange Object. Not telepathy, but it scratched exactly the itch I'd been pondering.
What kind is it?
I shifted my gaze. In that instant—
Fwoop—!
My vision flipped, and I stood five meters from my original spot. A dark blue human silhouette flickered into existence where I'd been, then vanished like an afterimage.
…Body Shift Swap?!
Body Shift Swap. A supreme lightness skill realm, moving at such extreme speed it left only an afterimage.
Not just weapon arts—mastery of movement and lightness skills to the extreme was required. Those who could do it could even run across water. An extraordinary technique.
But what I'd done wasn't Body Shift Swap. I relayed the imprinted info to Pa Cheon.
"The Strange Object I absorbed is Blink Jade. Effect, as you saw: short-range spatial leap. Obstacles no problem."
Just like blink in a game. With enough distance, you could phase through walls.
Unlike lightness skills, it worked in any posture—even lying down. But momentum was preserved: blink while running, and you'd still be running after.
Absurd.
"Swords flying around, talking, sucking up energy—that's fine?"
Pa Cheon fell silent at my retort.
For all its complaints, Pa Cheon Sword was among the top treasure artifacts. Unbreakable, it could fly, absorb energy, and speak. Any one of those would spark wars, yet it did all.
Legends said its master would rule the world.
"Using it makes me a bit dizzy, like motion sickness."
A former normie like me. Suddenly phasing through space wasn't intuitive.
"I'll get used to it. Heh heh heh…."
Once adapted, the applications were endlessly ridiculous.
Don't make that face with my sword-body. Fix your expression. Others are coming.
Yeah? My injuries don't show?
Dust off and you'll look fine.
I quickly brushed off the dust and straightened my clothes.
"Brother—!"
I turned slowly at the voice.
The fog-shrouded cliffside path was longer than expected. Even walking cautiously for traps, they'd been at it for nearly half a gak.
"Hey."
Paeng So So walked up beside Dang Si Hyeok. He tried to step away, then grimaced, realizing the single-file path.
"Not worried? He's your brother, right? We heard weird noises. And that sudden flame—what was that?"
"Worried? About who? Brother?"
Dang Si Hyeok snorted.
"Worry about yourself. Brother's from the East…."
"From the East?"
"…a high noble."
"High status means blades don't cut bellies?"
"Anyway! No need to worry. They called him husband material, and now you're worried? Brother wouldn't even think of it!"
Un Yeop Ja nodded in agreement.
Paeng So So panicked.
A guy who ignores even his own older brother follows him like that? Even the Super Peak expert Taoist?
Her "husband" talk was half-joking. Unless he proved his strength, it was just circumstances. But Dang Si Hyeok and Un Yeop Ja's reactions suggested he might truly be exceptional.
Not just them.
Sa Wol and Tak Horak followed quietly, presence erased. No one noticed.
- Will he be alright?
- I don't know.
- Should I rush ahead now? Those righteous punks calling him young hero pisses me off—want me to shove 'em off the path?
- Tak Horak.
- Yes, Vice Commander. Just give the order.
- Then here's your order. Shut up.
- ….
Tsk. Sa Wol clicked her tongue inwardly.
What on earth is he thinking?
She couldn't fathom Sado Hwan's intentions. Showing off supreme martial arts? Coveting the treasure artifact? Or, as Kwak Jeong said, betraying the cult for the orthodox world?
She shook her head.
No need to wonder. Anyway.
She'd kill him with her own hands eventually.
Thus, the group entered the cavern with the altar.
"Brother—!"
Sado Hwan turned slowly. His breathing steady, clothes lightly dusted, no sign of distress. Sheathing his sword gracefully, he looked utterly refined and aristocratic.
"These statues… what…."
Sado Hwan answered.
"Guardians of the ruins."
"You handled them alone?"
Paeng So So muttered in shock. A relic expert, she'd never seen such guardians. They weren't meant to be defeated simply. Standard tactic: weaken with spells, trap with formations, then strike. That's why she traveled with Jo Yang.
Paeng So So approached the debris. Drawing her saber, she swung with full force.
Clang—!
A ear-splitting screech. Her saber left only a finger-deep gash.
"Sliced this cleanly…?"
The statues' cross-sections were razor-sharp. Impossible without a single breath's work.
Paeng So So turned.
Despite this impossible feat, Sado Hwan stood serene, as if nothing happened.
Thump—
Her heart raced.
Pretending to Be the Heavenly Demon