Chapter 181: A Long Wait
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Translated by Frog in the Well
Read more at Nineheavens.org
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Today, something was different.
The faint vibration felt every time his soles stepped on the ground, the cool wind passing between his fingers.
Every flow was clear.
Should he say his five senses had vividly awakened? It felt as if the clarity of looking at the world had become brighter.
The moment he stepped onto the sparring arena with light steps as if taking a stroll.
The wooden dummy, which had been drooping like a doll with cut strings, lifted its head. As it straightened its posture and stared over here, a tingling thrill surged up his spine.
He had not known at first, but came to realize it as time flowed. In the wooden dummy’s gaze, something distant was contained.
“Prove that you possess the qualifications.”
It was a line he had heard so many times over the span of nearly ten years that he was sick and tired of it, but today he felt strangely excited.
“Ah, sure. Let’s check it out.”
Answering playfully,
Shring!
He drew the sword that had become as familiar to him as his own hands and feet through countless sparring matches.
By the way, what would happen if he won? Would it just end like that?
Could he even win?
Hearing that today was the end, he felt a bit of regret too.
Perhaps due to the sudden inspiration, all kinds of idle thoughts reared their heads, but as he concentrated on the unique coldness of the iron felt from the sword hilt, his mind became clear.
“Let’s begin.”
The moment he took a step forward while flicking the tip of the sword as if sending a signal.
Tap.
With a single light flick of a finger, exactly twenty-three beams of light flew in simultaneously.
It was an offensive he had experienced at least tens of thousands of times and should normally feel bored with, but admiration still escaped him.
Because no matter how many times he saw it, it was still so fast that it was hard to perceive.
“Heh.”
In the past, he would have had to swing his sword like crazy to deflect them, but now it was different.
Wooong!
Hemispherical discs generated all over his body. Micro-shields made by mixing Blood Armor and Sword Gang went out to greet the pouring beams of light.
The split second of collision.
He twisted the angle of the Blood Armor at an exquisite speed. Neither slow nor fast, just right.
Ting—!
He deflected them at an angle while reducing the impact force, so that the Blood Armor would not break from the beams of light possessing massive destructive power.
In the past, it was a feat he would barely succeed at once even if he concentrated extremely, but now he executed it as easily as breathing.
Deflecting the blow without even swinging his sword once,
Boom!
He kicked off the ground. He broke through half of the sparring arena in an instant.
The beams of light that had bounced in all directions distorted the air, and then diffusely reflected as if passing through a shattered window.
Patapatapat!
The beams of light, split into hundreds, drew trajectories so dazzling that it was difficult to follow them with the eyes.
Not only the eight directions including east, west, south, and north, but also above and below. They flew in simultaneously from all kinds of directions.
It felt as though the entire space was filled with beams of light.
They rushed from all directions under the heavens, literally, but Jin So-myeong’s response was the same. He deflected them using Blood Armor, micro-shields created in the shape of rounded discs.
Deflecting the beams of light without even sparing a single glance, Jin So-myeong struck down with his sword.
Right before the half-moon-shaped slash flying through the air could split the wooden dummy.
Swoosh! The wooden dummy, disappearing like smoke, appeared right in front of his nose.
Teleporting in an unstable space where their Divine Senses were tangled in disorder?
It was impossible by Jin So-myeong’s common sense, but he accepted it as such. Since it was a scene he had already seen countless times, he accepted it rather than trying to understand it.
Clang!
No sooner had he deflected the fist flying towards his face than the sound of tearing air rang out from behind.
The wooden dummy, occupying the rear with short-range teleportation, tried to crush his spine.
Crack!
He stomped hard and twisted his ankle. Pushing off the ground so strongly that the sparring arena floor shattered, he spun like a top and swung his sword.
It was a counterattack so fast that his arm looked like multiple arms due to the afterimages, but there was no sensation of striking anything.
Even before realizing that he had only slashed empty air in vain.
Whish!
The wooden dummy, appearing above his head at some point, tried to strike down on his crown with its elbow.
Crash!
He accelerated by unfolding the Lightning Escape Art. While countering all the fists thrown as it repeated short-range teleportation.
He scattered lightning Qi made thin as thread around him.
In this way, no matter where the wooden dummy appeared, it could not help but touch the lightning Qi, allowing him to react quickly.
While aiding his senses by spreading the lightning Qi in the form of a spiderweb.
Boom-boom-boom!
Dozens of exchanges followed in an instant. Intense sparks splattered every time fist and blade clashed.
He swept all directions with the flying sword illusions raised by the Star-Light Remnant-Shadow Sword, but he could not catch up to the wooden dummy’s overwhelming speed.
It meant that they missed in vain, but it was not meaningless.
With the flying sword that stood tall in midair, he bent the trajectory of the beam of light that flew in just in time. He made the beam of light fired by the wooden dummy target itself.
The moment the wooden dummy, which had been pouring out a fierce onslaught, turned its head to avoid the beam of light.
‘An opportunity!’
Without missing the thread-like gap captured after a long time, he poured out all his power in an instant.
Rumble!
At the same time as transforming the spiritual power detonated from his dantian into lightning Qi, he struck the Yin-Yang Great Hand Seal into the wooden dummy’s chest.
According to what he had found out so far, the wooden dummy’s vital point was precisely its heart.
Crackle!
Right before the mass of lightning, created by mixing extreme Yin and extreme Yang, could pierce the heart.
The strange patterns that appeared on the wooden dummy’s skin radiated light.
A transparent barrier covered its entire body in an instant, and then absorbed the Yin-Yang Great Hand Seal and reflected it back as it was.
‘…!’
There was no time to dodge. The reflected Yin-Yang Great Hand Seal swept through his entire body.
The hot and cold lightning tried to tear apart the meridians of his limbs. Even though it was an attack originating from his own lightning, it was painful nonetheless.
The pain of his internal organs as well as his entire nervous system burning. Just as he was gritting his teeth to endure.
The wooden dummy, appearing with teleportation, extended a straight fist.
The tip of his sword, swung instinctively in his daze, collided with the fist. He had blocked it well despite his confusion, but this attack was somehow different.
———!
An intangible wave, which felt like wind at first glance, permeated, and at the critical moment, it penetrated all defenses and dug into his interior.
“Ack!”
Along with the barrier that absorbed and reflected spells, even this. Both were abilities he had seen for the first time.
He did not know what principle it was, but it could not be blocked by any method…
In the end, twisting his body so that his vital points would not touch the trajectory of the fist was the sole measure.
While protecting his dantian, brain, and heart, the critical vital points, he regenerated his torn-to-threads meridians with the Myriad Flows Restoration divine ability.
Just as he was trying to respond somehow amidst the confusion.
Thump!
The wooden dummy charged forward again. Naturally, an intangible wave was gathered in its fist.
It was so merciless that a hollow laugh leaked out. Even in his confusion, the fist flying towards his heart was clear.
Was he going to lose like this?
He had thought he would win today.
What a pity…
In order to reduce the impact when he was hit and blown away, he abruptly stopped his foot that was about to step back.
‘No.’
The complacent mindset that it was fine to lose and that there was a next time had made him weak.
He did not back down.
Rather, he advanced towards the fist trying to pierce his heart. Right before the collision, he twisted his upper body.
Crack!
The chilling sound of bones crushing was clear. Vividly feeling the fist piercing right next to his heart.
He thrust his sword in return.
But regrettably, his decisive blow was blocked all too easily. The sword caught in the bare hand did not move even slightly.
As if stuck between giant machinery with overwhelming mass, he could not even pull the sword out.
So…
He simply let go. Continuing to drive the sword in with the Sword Control Art he had practiced all this time,
‘I leave it to you.’
He entrusted the beams of light pouring down like a bombardment from all directions to Mu-geuk.
He summoned the lightning Qi he had scattered around to bind the wooden dummy,
And thrust out his hand blade erect like a sword. With the determination to absolutely kill it.
In the slowed-down world. Light dwelled on the fingertips crossing the air.
‘Ah.’
A Single Flash Lightens the Heavens. The sensation he had forgotten for a long time returned.
Now that the subconscious and consciousness sleeping beneath the surface looked in the same direction, the fighting spirit that had faded in countless defeats was revived.
The agitation was brief.
Right before piercing the heart, the pattern that had reflected the Yin-Yang Great Hand Seal created a barrier.
Would it be fine?
Such a thought flashed through his mind for a moment.
If even A Single Flash Lightens the Heavens was reflected, he would not be able to handle it. He might truly die.
Wouldn’t it be much safer to step back and look for the next opportunity…
That was rational. There was no value in risking his life for a mere trial.
Weakness. Or wise judgment.
The two tangled in disorder and shook his heart.
…
Amidst the numerous emotions passing like waves in an instant.
He forgot life and death, even victory and defeat.
He simply thrust. With the resolve that if not now, he would never be able to pierce it.
Towards the wooden dummy’s heart, the place where the Counter-Rebound Formation was carved, he thrust with everything contained.
————!
The moment the fingertips wrapped in pure white light of A Single Flash Lightens the Heavens touched the barrier.
The light, which felt like it could pierce through anything, began to be absorbed by the barrier. As if being broken, the patterns appearing on the wooden dummy’s skin radiated a brilliant light.
Woooong!
Was it going to be reflected? It spat out an ominous vibration as if about to explode at any moment, but he did not step back.
Rather, he advanced. He dragged up the impact force generated by stomping the ground with his lower body exactly as it was. Squeezing out every last bit of physical strength, he added it to his fingertips.
And so, in the end.
Crack!
He pierced through. He split the round something inside the chest, which was assumed to be the heart.
It was an event that occurred simultaneously with the shattering of the barrier that was absorbing A Single Flash Lightens the Heavens.
Crunch!
Roughly pulling out the dummy’s power source, he struck its neck with his other hand.
Right before the wooden dummy’s head could spin and fall to the ground.
Abruptly. Everything in sight stopped.
As if time were flowing backward, the shattered dummy began to return to its original form.
Could there be a next stage?
Just as he raised his vigilance tightly while tending to the wound next to his heart.
The wooden dummy, which had returned to a normal wooden statue at some point, stared intently over here.
For some reason, vivid emotions were felt in that gaze. It looked as if reason had dwelled in the wooden dummy, which had been extremely mechanical.
“It has been a long wait.”
“…”
“There is no need to be on guard. I am merely a strand of remnant soul, so I will disappear soon.”
A remnant soul? It meant a fragment of a soul, and it did not seem to be a lie.
The presence felt from the wooden dummy was truly faint. It was like a candle right before the wick was completely burned.
Shaaaa…
It turned into ashes starting from the wooden dummy’s fingertips. Even if left alone, it seemed it would disappear before long.
“How long I have waited for today…”
Even though it was a wooden dummy without a single facial expression, deep regret was felt.
Relief, bitterness, and faint longing were intricately mixed, making it difficult to readily express what kind of emotion it was.
By the way, ever since coming to the Inheritance Pass, there were truly many things he was curious about. All sorts of words hovered in his mouth, but the question that popped out first in the end was this.
“Do I have the qualifications?”
“…Qualifications?”
A brief silence flowed.
“Harharharhar! Since you achieved an impossible victory, of course! I, the Star-Shattering True Monarch, recognize you! You are indeed the sword forged by our human race!”
The sword forged by the human race? There was no time to even express doubt.
Boom!
The ceiling of the Inheritance Pass cracked and began to collapse. As if it had completed its mission.
In the end, he asked what he was most curious about as quickly as possible.
“But exactly what qualifications are you talking about?”
“Hmm? You have come all the way to the Inheritance Pass and know nothing?”
“I came here by chance. Right now, this secret realm is not in a normal state.”
“By chance…? In any case, fine. Since there is no time, I will speak briefly. Although you will naturally find out if you go to the upper realm, the situation of our human race is not very good.”
The wooden dummy that glanced at the collapsing ceiling—no, the entity that called himself the remnant soul of the Star-Shattering True Monarch continued to speak.
“Even at the point when I descended, we were facing a major war to the extent that the entire human race could be wiped out if we made a single mistake.”
“Wiped out…?”
“One of the leaders who sensed the crisis sacrificed their life to read the future. That a sword representing the human race would be born in this land in the future. Thus, I came.”
Two hundred thousand years ago.
The first immortal who descended after shattering the sky’s barrier. To think that the purpose of the Star-Shattering True Monarch was to find a sword to represent the human race.
“Are you saying that is me?”
“Well. Honestly speaking, I do not know either. I just believe. That you, who passed my test, will one day become the sword representing the human race.”
Honestly, it was a story hard to readily believe.
Just as Jin So-myeong, who had been silent, was about to ask more of what he was curious about.
“Enough. There is no time. Since I have spoken all the important things, choose for yourself. Whether to go to the upper realm or not!”
Light poured from the collapsed ceiling.
At the same time,
The wooden dummy, which had completely turned into ashes, gathered in midair and became a single talisman.
“It is the Rank 6 Boundary-Breaking Talisman. It is a necessary item to ascend to the upper realm by passing through the planar interface. You must reach at least the Soul Formation stage before using it so you will not die.”
“Ah.”
“I hope that your realm will reach the heavens and you can become the pillar of the human race.”
Ending with the voice deeply permeated with a feeling of relief.
As he snatched what flew in swiftly amidst the flash, it was the Rank 6 Boundary-Breaking Talisman and a gold-colored jade slip.
“Some knowledge brings disaster merely by the fact of knowing it. The lower realm cannot handle this cultivation method, so you must learn it after ascending to the upper realm.”
***
As the intense light blocking his vision cleared, the familiar desert was visible. The place filled with insect eggs instead of sand.
Crack!
Splitting the insects that flew in as if welcoming him, he narrowed his eyes.
His head was so complicated that he did not know how to react readily.
To think that the wooden dummy he had strived so hard to defeat and finally won against was actually a talisman?
‘I am the sword of humanity?’
The talisman, from which no energy could be felt like normal paper. Toying with the Rank 6 Boundary-Breaking Talisman, he put it into his sub-space.
It was the same for the gold-colored jade slip.
He had heard that a cultivation method was contained within, but there was nothing he could find out even after examining it closely. Since there was no response even when he carefully infused his Divine Sense, he stored it separately for now.
Crackle!
While pouring lightning on the insects that endlessly rushed in without knowing the value of their lives.
He released his Divine Sense to examine the surrounding terrain.
‘Where should I go?’
While repeating cultivation and sparring in the Inheritance Pass, too much time had flowed.
He had heard that the maximum period one could stay in the Defeated Sage Dojo was ten years, and he had filled that entire period before he knew it.
Agonizing while tapping his scabbard out of habit, he decided on a direction.
He decided to go to the oasis first, which was a familiar place.
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