Chapter 445: More Than That

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A faint smile formed at the corner of Cheol Ryu-heun’s lips.

‘Hut…… so that’s how it was.’

His vague intuition had hit the mark.

It was the moment the hidden truth of the booklet he had received from the villager in ancient times was revealed.

It was truly wondrous.

Things called fate.

To think that booklet was the work of Gan Jiang, the creator of the Gan Jiang that he had owned at the time……

It was a truly strange feeling.

This was coincidence-like inevitability.

Was this what they often call unavoidable destiny?

A bond spanning vast eons, continuing from Cho Baek to Divine Martial Sword, and again from Divine Martial Sword to Cheol Ryu-heun.

Astonishing.

On the other hand, it was interesting.

It made him look back on his past life anew.

Soon, Cheol Ryu-heun, having withdrawn his smile, shifted his gaze.

Divine Wind, no…… Cho-hui, and Wang-ryu gradually approaching.

Still, the scene in the flowing time was slow and sluggish.

While entering the entrance to the Great Universe and returning, Wang-ryu had only advanced five or six steps.

But compared to the earlier situation, there was one very small but meaningful difference.

Movement.

The scene entering his eyes had become slightly faster.

Though extremely subtle, the speed had definitely picked up.

Of course, it wasn’t movement that escaped the standard of being slow, but it was a change that told him this flow of time would soon return to normal.

In other words, it meant that the mysterious energy’s dominion generated from the entrance to the Great Universe was being gradually withdrawn.

Sure enough.

Looking up, the entrance to the Great Universe, leading to the realm that transcended even the Heavenly External Realm, was gradually shrinking.

SEUSEUSEUT…… SEUSEUSEUT……

Gan Jiang was also gazing at the center of the sky.

-The legendary Great Universe? The one only Shakyamuni was said to have reached……?

At his question, Cheol Ryu-heun immediately turned his gaze.

“Can you see that?”

Gan Jiang, looking at the sky, smiled gently.

-Hmmm, I see it clearly. Of course, it must be thanks to having achieved communication of spiritual power with you.

Cheol Ryu-heun immediately nodded and responded.

“I see. Since our Soul energies are connected……”

-The five people with their backs to the constellations, I can guess who they are. They’re the five who were revered as the peerlessly strongest in martial arts history, right?

“Correct. Heavenly Demon, Sword Emperor, Evil Emperor, Martial Immortal, Blood God.”

-I’m curious. How was it, going there?

“Well. it’s a bit difficult to explain in words. everything just came across as mysterious.”

-I suppose so. It must be a place where the knowledge of this mortal world doesn’t apply. Heo-heot. Anyway, judging by the power felt from you, it seems you’ve gained something new.

“Yes, now I must finish things.”

Having said so, Cheol Ryu-heun rapidly approached his own body and opened his mouth again.

“I ALSO HAVE MUCH TO ASK. SINCE WHEN DID YOU KNOW THAT I AM Bai Chu REINCARNATED IN THIS ERA?”

It was a question filled with conviction.

The clue was what Gan Jiang had said earlier.

-I shall wait with her.

He had definitely said so earlier.

That was no different from meaning he had grasped that the spiritual soul’s true identity inherent in Divine Wind was Cho-hui of the past.

Gan Jiang answered briefly.

-From the beginning.

Cheol Ryu-heun also quickly realized what that meant.

It meant from the moment of their reunion in the cave where Ascending Heaven Sword Dragon had arranged a fortunate encounter, bridging the long years.

‘I see, even then already……’

-I recognized you immediately. Because that spiritual energy was familiar. It wasn’t a difficult thing. Have you forgotten? How long we traveled together?

At that time, Bai Chu was the owner of the Gan Jiang.

He roamed countless battlefields with that sword.

He didn’t know it then, but within the Gan Jiang was Gan Jiang’s spiritual self.

So through that soul energy, he must have recognized.

That Cheol Ryu-heun was his past owner Bai Chu……

Meanwhile, the flow of time had quickened further.

“Now it’s become time to put our conversation aside.”

-Yes, it seems the entrance to the Great Universe will soon close completely.

“Though it’s already past, I suddenly can’t help feeling regret.”

If he had communicated spiritually with the Gan Jiang in those days, the tragic history related to Huan Hou would have changed too.

But there was no lingering attachment in his heart.

As he said, it was already something that had passed long ago.

-I too at that time…… Since I was beside you experiencing all those events, I wanted somehow to be of help. But……

“Yes, I know. my ability was lacking.”

-Hmmm, regrettably, that was so.

“Well, it’s fine. Because of that past, the present me exists. besides…… I realized for certain through the conversation just now.”

Such Cheol Ryu-heun soon gazed at the Gan Jiang.

“That from now on, this liver-burial Sword will become the Divine weapon that splendidly replaces the Divine Martial Sword.”

-Indeed. Is that all? It will probably become more than that.

“……”

-Heo-heot. Don’t forget. That sword is strictly one of a pair of male-female twin swords.

The moment Gan Jiang’s words ended, Cheol Ryu-heun recalled one name.

‘Mo Ye!’

The sword symbolizing Gan Jiang’s wife.

Also.

The sword that friend and Emperor Huan Hou of old had owned……

Right then, a voice-like Sound Transmission reached him again.

-What did I say earlier?

Cheol Ryu-heun immediately recalled what he had said.

-At last, I have awakened. Now we shall…… Meet as bonds that have continued transcending long years.

Having recalled that, Cheol Ryu-heun’s pupils flashed with light.

As if he understood.

Gan Jiang, who read that gaze, quietly smiled and told him.

-That’s right, it’s coming here. Resonating with the spiritual divine energy……

‘Then I’m gaining two new martial Divine swords!’

When he had killed and eliminated Great Nine Demon Dragon Sangjan, he had thought.

That if he obtained the Mo Ye Sword as well, he could create a new Divine Martial Sword…… It wouldn’t be easy, but by applying the essence of the booklet, he could find some kind of solution……

But.

The Gan Jiang was originally the predecessor divine weapon of the Divine Martial Sword.

The paired Mo Ye Sword would be the same.

Indeed.

What he had thought was about to become real.

The excitement was brief.

Before he knew it, the flow of time in space had quickened dramatically.

The entrance to the Great Universe was on the verge of closing completely.

Cheol Ryu-heun, having regained his original indifference, transmitted a Sound Transmission as he seeped into his body.

-Let’s finish this.

Thus, his spiritual body entered his body.

SEUREUREUK……

Gan Jiang too transformed into white smoke and was absorbed into the sword.

Simultaneously, the entrance to the Great Universe also disappeared without a trace.

SYUSYUSYUSYUSYUSYUSYUSYU… SYUSYUSYUSYUSYUSYUSYUSYUSYU… !

Cho-hui, having become Divine Wind, continued to release power forward.

Vast white energy charging toward Wang-ryu.

However, breaking through the barrier of the magnificent formless energy he was emitting was a difficult task.

PEOEOEOEOEOEONG…… PEOEOEOEOEOEONG…… PEOEOEOEOEOEONG……!

While the roars echoed, Wang-ryu’s footsteps were simply majestic.

CHEOK, CHEOK, CHEOK, CHEOK, CHEOK…

His bearing was like a giant rock piercing straight through fiercely howling wind.

Each step, literally, was without hesitation.

Even a single strand of his hair wasn’t shaking.

The barrier of formless energy was that perfect and solid.

Right then, Wang-ryu wore a bloodthirsty sneer.

“Hut. today I must fill my belly with horse meat.”

No sooner had his words ended.

KWANG… !

Wang-ryu explosively released a large amount of internal power through his Bubbling Well points and charged.

A gap compressing at terrifying speed.

He who burst upon Cho-hui’s front in the blink of an eye.

Along with it, a sword piercing through air and rushing.

SYUKAAAAK!

A momentum as if to behead her in one stroke.

But Cho-hui didn’t dodge.

There wasn’t even the slightest reaction from her body.

Was she overconfident in her own strength?

No.

There was a different reason.

JJEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEONG… KKWAUUUUUUUUUUNG!

Metallic sounds and roars mingled.

“Keuk!”

Wang-ryu, having let out a short groan, rapidly retreated.

Both soles of his feet scraped the ground harshly as they headed backward.

JIIIIIIIIIIIIIK……!

His form was pushed back the same distance he had approached.

Wang-ryu, having barely steadied his balance, transformed his gaze.

‘……!’

His flickering pupils spoke for his astonishment.

Upon confirming the existence that had deflected his sword stance.

“Cheol Ryu-heun!”

The name he had intended to shout in his mind burst out of his mouth without his knowing.

That’s how unexpected a situation he had faced.

For him, it was incomprehensible.

A fellow who had been as good as facing death suddenly seemed fine and was loudly rampaging, pouring out tremendous power.

Then, sharpening his vision, he examined Cheol Ryu-heun’s physical condition and was dumbfounded.

‘That can’t be……!’

A sight he couldn’t readily believe entered his eyes.

The wounds over his entire body had recovered.

And completely healed without even a scratch.

Meanwhile.

Cheol Ryu-heun, with Cho-hui behind him, slightly turned his head.

At his Sound Transmission, Cho-hui immediately sent back a Sound Transmission.

-You’ve obtained a new power.

-Yes, I had firm faith. That’s why I didn’t dodge. Truly…… I’m happy, my lord.

At that sound, Cheol Ryu-heun felt his heart clench for a moment.

My Lord.

It was a loving form of address he hadn’t encountered in a long time.

But he soon recovered his indifferent composure and spoke.

He then adjusted his grip on the sword hilt.

Simultaneously with sending the Sound Transmission, he advanced forward like a flash.

Cho-hui too felt her heart clench.

Droplets falling from her large, round eyes spoke for that tender heart.

Wang-ryu charged to meet him.

The center of the narrowed gap.

Thus, Cheol Ryu-heun and Wang-ryu’s sword energies collided.

KKWAKWANG!

A terrifying roar shook the earth along with it.

It was terrifying power.

So much so that even the pure-white clouds floating in the sky above the two were torn and scattered.

In that midst.

KKWAJIJIK!

Wang-ryu, bounced backward, slammed his back into the ground.

“Keo……!”

His mind was dizzy.

His major meridians were shaken from receiving Cheol Ryu-heun’s sword force head-on.

Still, he had barely suppressed his internal injuries.

Right then, his keen energy perception caught it.

Cheol Ryu-heun’s movement approaching like a flash.

Wang-ryu, gritting his molars, sprang up and rapidly thrust out his sword point.

JJEOEOEOEONG!

Along with the stinging metallic sound, sparks flashed brightly.

The pinnacle internal power loaded in his blade was futilely scattered.

As it collided with his opponent.

Immediately after, Wang-ryu’s complexion turned white as a sheet.

The place his blade had touched was on top of Cheol Ryu-heun’s left shoulder.

His sword strike had connected.

Yet no wound was inflicted.

As if a wooden stick had struck a stone statue.

‘Surely……!’

In the instant of Wang-ryu’s shock, Cheol Ryu-heun’s dry voice was heard.

“There’s no law saying only you can achieve the Diamond Indestructible Body, is there?”

At those words, Wang-ryu, his heart plunging, rapidly pulled his body back and shouted.

“Gal! how can you…… this is impossible!”

Right at that moment.

PAAAAAAAAAA… PAAAAAAAAAA… PAAAAAAAAAA… !

One object approached from the sky, creating loud wind sounds and shockwaves.

Without even glancing, Cheol Ryu-heun extended his left hand upward.

DEOBSEOK!

That softly fell into his grasp.

It was the Mo Ye Sword’s appearance.

Having lowered his arm, Cheol Ryu-heun spoke nonchalantly.

“Now you’ll have to get beaten until you shit blood, right?”