Chapter 263: Before He Knew It, the Positions Had Reversed

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Translated by Frog in the Well

Read it only at Nineheavens.org
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It was like a meteor falling.

That was the first thought that came to mind upon seeing the spear, which looked as if it had been carved from crystal, launched as a surprise attack by the Thunder-Pattern Hermit Lizard from a distance where it could not even be seen.

The giant spear, having flown from a vast distance, soared high into the sky before plunging down vertically, and the power contained within it was indeed astonishing.

It was a might capable of evaporating the sea and splitting even a continent just by touching it.

It was strong enough to be compared to the fist that Ra-heuk had struck down after forming a giant phantom.

Even so.

Every trajectory was clear.

Was it because he had grown?

He could clearly see the movement of the giant spear flying in as if pronouncing death.

He became able to look straight at the blow, which in the past he would have had to respond to desperately without even having time to think.

This was truly gratifying.

While letting out a smile of satisfaction,

He deactivated the Blood Spirit Clone he had summoned in the Secret Realm of the Mind. He had reclaimed forty percent of his power, which had been sealed to lure the enemy.

Then, just as he was sharply honing A Single Flash Lightens the Heavens flowing along the blade,

Woo-woong…!

The wooden plaque given by the Violet Light Heavenly Lord, which Ha Do-jin possessed, emitted a powerful light.

The beam of light that soared into the sky converged into a single point, then transformed as if into a shield.

The moment it blocked the giant spear that was plunging vertically.

Jjeo-eong!

The energy of the Violet Light Heavenly Lord originating from the wooden plaque shattered to pieces along with a rupturing sound like breaking glass.

It had smashed to pieces, unable to handle the destructive power contained in the giant spear.

Although it was pierced so easily that it felt futile, it was not meaningless.

It had consumed a fair amount of the power contained in the giant spear,

And it made Ha Do-jin realize that the Thunder-Pattern Hermit Lizard had launched a surprise attack.

“Damn it!”

Ha Do-jin, whose eyes widened, immediately kicked off the ground.

He had fled using the brief moment of time the wooden plaque had bought him.

He glanced at that figure and then stopped paying attention.

Since he was fleeing just as they had discussed beforehand anyway, there was nothing to be particularly disappointed or angry about.

As he took his eyes off Ha Do-jin,

Jjeok!

He split the giant spear that had approached right before his nose with a sword swung like a thunderbolt.

And he focused on the Thunder-Pattern Hermit Lizard, which had drawn close enough to be visible to the eyes.

‘Its size alone is truly massive…’

It felt as if a heavy and colossal mountain range was approaching while swimming through the sky.

Its appearance was basically that of a lizard, but it had long legs and sharp claws sprouting, giving off a feeling similar to a dinosaur.

Lightning Qi crackled from the translucent scales that densely covered its entire body, and it possessed as many as three spiked tails like maces.

Being overall heavy yet sharp, it felt like looking at a general clad in heavy armor on a battlefield.

‘With a size like that… just rolling around roughly would blow away several castles.’

An overwhelming mass was a weapon in itself.

Just as he was gauging its full strength while looking at the Thunder-Pattern Hermit Lizard’s appearance,

Ha Do-jin, who was desperately fleeing, suddenly gritted his teeth and extended a finger toward this side.

Kwa-kwa-kwang!

A hundred pillars of earth that erupted as if exploding turned into chains and bound the Thunder-Pattern Hermit Lizard.

‘Is he trying to help?’

He wondered if a Soul Formation-grade spell would work, but a powerful golden light burst from the chains wrapping around the Thunder-Pattern Hermit Lizard in an instant, stopping its movement.

Of course, it did not last long.

Just with the Thunder-Pattern Hermit Lizard, whose eyes had turned ferocious, lightly shaking its body, the chains broke to pieces.

‘That is…’

He was startled as he watched that scene.

Even though it was only for an instant, it was surprising that it had stopped the steps of a Void Refinement-grade ominous beast, and a familiar energy was felt from the golden brilliance emitted by the chains.

‘A Single Flash Lightens the Heavens?’

Although its outward appearance was different, it was definitely A Single Flash Lightens the Heavens.

Just as he paused at the unexpected sight,

Ha Do-jin, who had cast the spell, turned pale in the face and shouted loudly.

“I have done all I can!”

He then fled hastily without even looking back, and he was fast enough to disappear beyond the horizon in an instant.

A smirk escaped him at the help he had not even expected.

‘Did the Light-Moon Silent-Life Sword continue in the Upper Realm as well?’

Various thoughts flashed past at the suddenly encountered A Single Flash Lightens the Heavens, but he folded them away in a corner of his heart.

Because now was the time to focus on the enemy.

Geureureung…

The moment the Thunder-Pattern Hermit Lizard, having torn the chains at once, growled like a furious beast.

Pajijijijik!

Dazzling bundles of lightning poured out from the Thunder-Pattern Hermit Lizard’s colossal body,

And in an instant, the temperature of the atmosphere soared.

Intense streaks of lightning, so strong that it was difficult to even open one’s eyes, filled all directions, and as they erupted with thunderous roars, they condensed into a single point and became a translucent crystal pillar.

Looking at the crystal pillar that had turned long and sharp like an icicle, he narrowed his eyes.

‘Is that the divine ability the Thunder-Pattern Hermit Lizard is said to possess?’

To solidify lightning Qi and make it into a mineral with a physical form.

The process of generating the lightning crystal was so fast that it was difficult to even interfere.

‘If used well, it would be useful in battle too.’

Just as he was warily watching the crystal pillar that had appeared in the air,

Piing…!

A noise as if a tautly drawn bowstring had been released echoed, and then the crystal pillar crossed the air at a tremendous speed.

However, the direction in which the crystal pillar was flying was a bit strange.

It aimed not at Jin So-myeong, who was right in front of it, but at Ha Do-jin, who was fleeing far away.

Was it retaliation for having summoned chains to try and stop its movement?

In any case, he had no intention of just standing by and watching.

He accelerated with the Lightning Escape Art while simultaneously leaping into the air. He blocked the path of the crystal pillar, and

Jjeong!

Deflected the crystal pillar containing immense power obliquely using the side of the sword.

Before the sparks that flew up from the friction could even disappear, the crystal pillar, its trajectory bent, flew toward a completely wrong place.

Geureuk…?

A mere Soul Formation cultivator had blocked a Void Refinement-grade blow.

Furthermore, this time there was not even the help of the wooden plaque containing the energy of the Violet Light Heavenly Lord.

At that bizarre occurrence,

The Thunder-Pattern Hermit Lizard’s gaze turned toward this side for the first time.

The moment he pointed his sword while facing the eyes filled with wariness.

Kwareung!

The Thunder-Pattern Hermit Lizard, enveloped in lightning, appeared right before his nose.

The distance, which was easily several hundred kilometers, disappeared in an instant.

‘Lightning Escape Art?’

It was fast enough to make it hard to believe it possessed a size as large as a mountain range. Even with his sharp senses, he only noticed it a beat late.

In the split second that carved an instant.

Pajik…!

He cast the Purple Lightning Escape Art to accelerate.

The world slowed down rapidly, turning as if it had stopped,

And a front paw so colossal that it covered the sky tried to trample him.

Looking at the Thunder-Pattern Hermit Lizard trying to crush him by utilizing the overwhelming difference in stature, he laid his sword flat horizontally and raised it like a shield.

He decided to block the Thunder-Pattern Hermit Lizard’s blow, which plunged down like a meteor, head-on.

In fact, there was no need to go this far.

Thanks to the time bought by the Violet Light Heavenly Lord’s wooden plaque and Ha Do-jin, the Blood Wings had already completed their first circulation.

It meant he could move on to the second circulation at any time, and if he accelerated with the amplified spiritual power, it was also possible to avoid this blow.

However, he did not do so.

In a way, he decided to openly and outright block the Thunder-Pattern Hermit Lizard’s strike, to a degree that could be considered foolish.

Because the most dangerous moment when fighting a Void Refinement Heavenly Lord was right now, when the Blood Wings were in the first circulation state.

He took the risk to clearly confirm just how much of a difference there was with Void Refinement.

Thus arrived the moment of collision.

‘…!’

He was hammered into the ground like a nail struck by a mallet.

He barely held on and avoided having his knees buckle, but the surrounding land was hollowed out as if a meteor had fallen, and a nearby lake was devastated just from the aftermath.

Kwaaaaang!!

Simultaneously with the shockwave that rang out belatedly.

The blade that clashed with the claws vibrated with a hum, and then a dizzying shock surged in.

He realized it as soon as he blocked the blow.

That it was difficult to fight Void Refinement when the Blood Wings were in the first circulation state.

Blood surged up his airway with a gulp, and ominous creaking sounds came from his joints all over his body.

Because the intangible shockwave that permeated through his forearms tried to tear apart his meridians and internal organs.

Although it was painful enough to dye his mind stark white…

On the other hand, it was bearable.

By the time he judged that it would be possible to somehow hold on and transition to the second circulation.

Kik, kik-kik-kik!

A clear sneer.

A giggling sound leaked from the Thunder-Pattern Hermit Lizard, which was looking down from the sky.

The wariness that had filled its eyes vanished without a trace.

Whether it had become convinced that it was stronger, it made an unpleasant sound as if the victory had already been decided.

Kwang!

Watching the front paw plunging down in succession, Jin So-myeong also snorted.

Taking it head-on once was enough.

He drew a circle with the tip of his sword to unfold the Yin-Yang Reversal. Simultaneously with deflecting the front paw plunging down as if to trample a bug,

The Blood Wings entered the second circulation.

…Kik?

At that moment, the sneering that had been leaking from the Thunder-Pattern Hermit Lizard’s mouth abruptly stopped.

Had it noticed that something was strange?

It narrowed its eyes like a person encountering a venomous snake and poured out bundles of lightning.

Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwang!

Like branches stretching out, the bundles of lightning scattered in all directions turned into sharp crystals, reducing every visible landscape to ashes.

It was a threatening offensive, but the concentration of power was too low.

It felt like a ferocious beast running wild after losing its reason.

An attack spreading in all directions like this was hard to avoid, but easy to block.

Of course, he did not let his guard down.

Jjeojeojeong!

He swung the sword imbued with A Single Flash Lightens the Heavens, deflecting the incoming lightning Qi one by one.

Responding calmly, he converted some of the energy flowing along his meridians into vital blood, healing the internal injuries he had sustained while receiving the blow head-on earlier.

Chae-chae-chaeng!

How many times had he deflected the sharp crystals trying to pierce his vital points?

Before he knew it, all directions were filled with shattered crystal fragments. This was because the crystals deflected by the sword had smashed like glass and scattered.

‘…Wait a minute.’

Even though they were crystals made by a Void Refinement-grade ominous beast, they broke too easily.

Around the time a doubt crossed his mind.

Kwareureung!

The Thunder-Pattern Hermit Lizard, letting out a bizarre cry as if roaring, once again poured out bundles of lightning.

He wondered if it was doing the same attack again, but it was not.

Woo-oo-oo-oong……!

The crystal fragments scattered here and there vibrated as if resonating, amplifying the thunderous sound.

‘A sonic technique?’

The moment the thunderous sound that echoed simultaneously from all directions struck his eardrums.

It felt as if thousands of microscopic blades were hacking away inside his body.

Just as he grimaced because it was painful yet impossible to avoid or block,

Kwang!

The Thunder-Pattern Hermit Lizard, rushing in as if it had been waiting, struck down with its front paw.

Even while his vision was blurred due to the pain, he kicked off the ground and dodged, but the offensive did not cease.

Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwang!

While dodging the front paws pouring down endlessly, and sometimes swinging his epee to strike back.

Around the time his meridians, which had barely recovered, became ragged again from the accumulated shock.

Kereureu… kekeke!

A sneer leaked out again from the Thunder-Pattern Hermit Lizard, which had been attacking one-sidedly.

To be honest, it was not pleasant, but he ignored it.

He focused only on maintaining the current situation while avoiding fatal wounds.

Anyway…

Because the tide of battle would soon be reversed.

How many times had he held back the blood surging up?

‘It is done.’

The energy that had initially departed from the heart returned to the heart after circulating through the spleen, lungs, kidneys, and liver…the five viscera.

In other words…

The Blood Wings entered the third circulation.

An instant.

The energy that soared fiercely amplified the sharp Qi gathered on the blade, and

The sword slashed diagonally sliced through the front paw that was trying to crush him.

Chwaaaak!

Simultaneously with the blood pouring down like a waterfall, one of the three claws flew through the air.

It was the moment he inflicted meaningful damage for the first time since the battle began.

Right then.

Kieeeeek!

The Thunder-Pattern Hermit Lizard, letting out a scream as if having a seizure, became enveloped in lightning, then immediately turned its body and flew beyond the horizon.

“…Heh.”

To run away immediately just because of a single small scratch after sneering while attacking one-sidedly; it was absurd.

Jin So-myeong, clicking his tongue inwardly, gathered the claw he had just sliced off and kicked off into the air.

Kwareung!

Unfolding the Purple Lightning Escape Art to accelerate, he pursued the fleeing Thunder-Pattern Hermit Lizard.

Watching the surrounding scenery stretching out like taffy due to the tremendous speed, he suddenly remembered the past.

‘It feels like just yesterday when I was being chased by a Void Refinement Asura…’

Now, he was chasing a Void Refinement-grade ominous beast.

Should he call it the feeling of a changed world? Not even a long time had passed, yet the situation had completely changed.

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