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In an instant, I swung the Formless Sword towards the sky almost instinctively.
Bo-oong!
Jeeeeng!
The Formless Sword, reaching Treading Heavens, cuts through the lightning falling from the sky.
"Bring Myeong-hoon over here."
Wo-woong!
Without giving me a chance to act, Jin Byuk-ho extends his hand and a force of attraction emerges from it, pulling Jeon Myeong-hoon towards him.
Holding Jeon Myeong-hoon's head, Jin Byuk-ho clicks his tongue and exerts force in his hand.
Simultaneously, the Mysterious Bizarre Gu I placed in Jeon Myeong-hoon's upper dantian burns away completely.Zzzt!
Since it's a spell I created from a part of my consciousness, a sharp pain flows into my consciousness when the Mysterious Bizarre Gu is burned.
"Now, shall we have a talk?"
Why is it?
The opponent is at the early stage of Four-Axis, not having built even a single Axis.
Yet, for some reason, I feel Jin Byuk-ho holding the Heavenly Lightning Banner to be even more insurmountable than Gyu-ryeon or Seo Hweol.
Wiiing!
I can see the intent flowing from the Heavenly Lightning Banner communicating with Jin Byuk-ho.
The next moment, Jin Byuk-ho swings the Heavenly Lightning Banner again.
Kururung!
The sky lights up brightly.
The next moment, hundreds of lightning bolts fall towards me.
"This is insane…!"
Kugugugu!
Splash!
I spit out blood and soar into the sky.
The Pure Spiritual Force that reached the Nascent Soul stage, the body refined by demon beast methods, and the skin further strengthened by the Black Dragon's True Blood.
And the Formless Sword that reached Treading Heavens flowing through my entire body allowed me to barely survive.
I look at the place where a hundred bolts of lightning had fallen.
Right in front of Jin Byuk-ho.
The very place I was just standing had become a gigantic valley.
It isn't just a simple valley.
'A spatial rift…!'
Each of those lightning bolts were equivalent to a strike from a Four-Axis stage cultivator.
Even so, I felt that Jin Byuk-ho was not using his full power.
'I need to escape.'
As long as Jin Hyuk-who wields the Heavenly Lightning Banner, there is absolutely no chance of winning.
Paaat!
I cut through the air using the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts.
Jin Byuk-ho looks surprised for a moment when I disappear from in front of him, but soon smirks and swings the Heavenly Lightning Banner again.
And then.
Kururururung!
The entire sky turns blue and the area within a ten-mile radius is filled with lightning.
"…!"
The Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts is not a teleportation technique but is based on evading using the opponent's perception.
In other words, it's useless in front of an area-wide technique that doesn't rely on perception.
I control my trembling limbs and summon the Black Dragon's True Blood.
Crack, crack!
Black horns protrude from my forehead and black scales appear in various places.
Simultaneously, my hips bulge and a tail springs out while my limbs become sharp like those of a beast.
Kugugugugu!
I summon dark clouds around me and flee rapidly riding on the clouds.
Tearing through space and entering the void using my vision of planes.
Utilizing the Flying Escape Technique of the Heaven Tribe, the Gliding Technique of the Earth Tribe, and becoming one with the Formless Sword of Treading Heavens, I flee away at lightning speed.
However, a golden light begins to chase me from behind with the resounding sound of thunder.
[You think you can escape!!!]
A stern voice thunders through the void, and Jin Byuk-ho chases after me with the speed of lightning.
Bo-oong!
As he swings the Heavenly Lightning Banner again, the empty void fills up with blue lightning.
"…!"
Pzzzt!
I grit my teeth and advance while being struck by lightning.
Ugh!
However, the attraction force of a Four-Axis stage cultivator pulls me towards him, and the distance between Jin Byuk-ho and myself closes.
'This won't do.'
If things continue this way, I will really get caught and killed!
Feeling the threat to my life, I fly towards the direction of Heavenly Human Island.
Kwarururung!
Of course, I am struck by lightning several times in the process, and I have to fly desperately to survive.
'Is this how I die?'
The lightning scattered by Jin Byuk-ho is truly terrifying.
While the Heavenly Tribulation adjusts to my realm, Jin Byuk-ho does not hesitate to sprinkle lightning at the Four-Axis level, making it even harder to defend against.
Kwarururung!
I am struck by blue lightning in the void once again and laugh hollowly, half out of my mind.
'I thought if I were to die in this life, it would be at the hands of Seo Hweol...'
Unexpectedly, I never imagined dying at the hands of Jin Byuk-ho, unable to even grasp the Heavenly Lightning Banner.
Had I at least held onto the Heavenly Lightning Banner, preventing Jin Byuk-ho from wielding it, I might have had a chance.
But I was defeated by the unfairness that only those from the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect can wield the Heavenly Lightning Banner.
'Well, this too…'
Kururung!
'Isn't bad. Anyway… I tried my best to do what I can…'
Just as my consciousness begins to sink downwards.
Ziiing!
I hear, or rather 'see,' something resonating in my head.
'What's this strange…'
Something is speaking to me.
'Strange voice?'
"…Huh!"
Startled, I open my eyes.
I look behind me just in case.
Sure enough, the voice comes from the direction Jin Byuk-ho is chasing me.
No, not a voice.
It's some third new sense, akin to the vision of Beyond the Path to Heavens and the vision of intent.
Something that until now I had described as 'seeing' and 'vision' as there was no way to describe this sense. In fact, it wasn't seeing but a sense of feeling.
This 'voice' is conveying its meaning to me in that manner.
No, more precisely, I can hear the meaning of the voice.
'Is it because I possess the vision of Treading Heavens?'
'I hear' the words.
―Save me.
The words of the 'Heavenly Lightning Banner'!
―Save me.
'Indeed, I didn't hear it wrong.'
The Heavenly Lightning Banner is continuously repeating the same message.
Asking to be saved.
The Heavenly Lightning Banner is 'speaking' like that.
My sixth sense whispers.
Speak to the Heavenly Lightning Banner.
That is the way to survive!
"Ugh!"
Struck by lightning as I fall through the void, I stop in my tracks.
Jin Byuk-ho, who is chasing after me, lifts the Heavenly Lightning Banner with a sneer.
"Remarkable, you dare to stand against me holding the Heavenly Lightning Banner?"
"Ha…!"
I focus my mind even more.
I concentrate my consciousness on the Heavenly Lightning Banner.
'I cannot see its form, but I can see its intent.'
That means, heart language might work!
I convey my intention to the Heavenly Lightning Banner through heart language.
―How do you want me to save you?
Immediately, the Heavenly Lightning Banner replies.
―Release me… from the descendants of the Golden Deity…
―I cannot even grasp you, let alone see you with my naked eye.
―I will tell you my real name. Strongly think of my real name and grab me. Then you might be able to grasp me….
The real name of the Heavenly Lightning Banner?
There's no time to think.
―Tell me!
Through the intent of the Heavenly Lightning Banner, its [Name] is firmly imprinted in my mind.
―The Essence of the Great Heavenly Punishment, Zhengli (Political Motivation).
'Zhengli!'
As I deeply invoke the name of the Heavenly Lightning Banner, I face Jin Byuk-ho.
'There's only one chance.'
Crackle!
Circuits of the Mad Lord are laid throughout my body.
Yuan Yu who I took while fleeing from Jin Byuk-ho also becomes Blood Body Skin Armor and melts into me.
Looking at Jin Byuk-ho, I open my mouth to probe him.
"Do you, by any chance, know the true name of the Heavenly Lightning Banner?"
"Hm?"
Seemingly surprised by my question, Jin Byuk-ho laughs and says,
"The Heavenly Lightning Banner is just the Heavenly Lightning Banner, what kind of nonsense are you spouting?"
"...."
He doesn't know.
But, perhaps this is for the best.
'Even if I hold Zhengli as an outsider, they won't be able to find out.'
It means I can catch him off guard for a moment.
"Anyway, why did you, who followed the Sea Dragon King, suddenly pop up and try to steal my disciple and the divine object of our sect? If you confess now, I might consider leniency."
"Confess, huh..."
I bitterly smile and face Jin Byuk-ho head-on.
"Don't you realize the moment you arrived in the Middle Realm with the Heavenly Lightning Banner, your Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect was fated for calamity?"
"What?"
"On the stele of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect's ancestor Yang Su-jin, floating in Ascension Path, it is written that one must not ascend with the Heavenly Lightning Banner. Once you reach the Four-Axis stage, you should be able to travel dimensions, so it wouldn't hurt to go back and check."
"What nonsense are you spouting now?"
As expected, it didn't get through.
"The content of Ascension Path's stele has been passed down to our sect. To ascend with a calm heart! That's what the stele says. What does a thing like you know about it!"
"...?"
What's this? It seems like he has a strange understanding of the stele's content.
'The transmission has been corrupted over time!'
As long as he believes what he knows is correct, there's nothing I can do.
"...Do you know about the shrine where Yang Su-jin's stele was enshrined? During the era Yang Su-jin was alive, his shrine built in the Central Imperial Kingdom fell to the Heaven-Treading Desert, and the other half of Yang Su-jin's stele also fell to the Heaven-Treading Desert along with the shrine."
And that was Yuan Li's black castle.
"I swear on the honor and integrity of the respected Sea Dragon King, Seo Hweol, my words are not false!"
"Uhm...! To invoke the name of the Sea Dragon King...?"
Upon mentioning Seo Hweol, Jin Byuk-ho seems startled and furrows his brows.
"...Are you saying that your theft of the Heavenly Lightning Banner is also the will of the Sea Dragon King?"
"Yes, exactly. The Sea Dragon King found an ancient record about Yang Su-jin within the Earth Tribe Territory. Based on that record and after some investigations, he concluded that the Heavenly Lightning Banner should remain with the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect and promptly dispatched me to retrieve it."
Jin Byuk-ho falls silent for a moment at my words.
Then, he shakes his head and shouts firmly,
"That's a lie. The glorious and just Sea Dragon King Seo Hweol I know would have invited me honestly, shared the truth, and warned me. He wouldn't meddle and try to steal from another sect!"
'As expected, he's not fooled.'
Without knowing the relationship Seo Hweol had with Jin Byuk-ho, Heo Gwak, and Azure Tiger Saint, I can't properly fabricate a story.
But that's okay.
The mere fact that Jin Byuk-ho was shaken by the mention of Seo Hweol's words is enough.
Yes, 'shaken' is enough.
Fwoosh!
The Formless Sword of Treading Heavens that envelops my entire body turns golden in an instant.
'I will revive it.'
The radiance of Surpassing Radiant Saber!
Fwaaah!
In an instant.
I become a blade faster than lightning. A saber surpassing even the speed of light, and charge at Jin Byuk-ho.
In that instant, as if time itself is split, I strongly envision the name Zhengli while successfully grabbing the transparent flag in Jin Byuk-ho's hand!
Crackle!
Tremendous lightning surges, but unlike before, I definitely 'grasp' its real form!
Crack!
Holding onto the Heavenly Lightning Banner, I retreat and escape.
Boom!
In the blink of an eye.
No, in fact, in an even shorter moment, I split the instant with the Formless Sword turned Surpassing Radiant Saber and successfully stole the Heavenly Lightning Banner.
"Ugh, huh, ack!"
Whether it's the backlash from forcibly changing the Formless Sword, blood spurts from my seven orifices and my sturdy body is violently shaken. However, I have succeeded!
"Ha, haha, hahahaha!"
Jin Byuk-ho's pupils tremble crazily and I laugh maniacally as I cut space and re-enter the physical world.
"Phew..."
With dense spiritual energy around, Heavenly Human Island is visible in the distance.
Behind me, Jin Byuk-ho is furiously splitting space to follow.
"NOOOOO!"
Holding the Heavenly Lightning Banner, I head towards Heavenly Human Island, laughing.
'Now, I'm almost there!!!'
That's when it happens.
Whisper, whisper, whisper...
A whisper tickles my ears.
It's the whisper of the Heavenly Lightning Banner.
—What's the matter, what's happening?
The Heavenly Lightning Banner trembles as if moved and says,
—Thank you for freeing me from the descendants of the Golden Deity who tormented me. Please, I ask for just one more request.
—A request?
—Call my name. Out loud.
—...?
It's an extremely bizarre request.
'Is there something behind this?'
Wondering if the Heavenly Lightning Banner is playing some trick on me, I look up at the sky to measure the celestial energy.
There was nothing unusual.
My fate is calm.
—Why do you want me to call your name?
—For the last tens of thousands of years, no one from the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect has ever spoken to me. It was a time of profound loneliness. Please, I beg of you, call my name.
Is it simply because it felt lonely from not having its name called?
I look at the celestial energy once more.
Even after imagining myself calling its name, the celestial energy remains unchanged.
Whether I call its name or not, there is no change in the celestial energy.
'Well, if it purely wants its name to be called...'
I nod, looking at the lonely intent of the Heavenly Lightning Banner.
Wo-woong!
At the same moment, my body turns into a sword and pierces through the barrier of Heavenly Human Island, entering into it.
Now, all I have to do is to board the teleportation array to the Light Spirit Pond. From there on, my plan will be practically complete.
I soar towards the teleportation array leading to the Light Spirit Pond. Arriving in front of it, I decide to grant the wish of the Heavenly Lightning Banner.
Taat!
Standing on the teleportation array, I call the name of the Heavenly Lightning Banner.
"Zhengli."
Simultaneously, I see Jin Byuk-ho chasing after me from afar and activate the teleportation array.
"Farewell. The Heavenly Lightning Banner will be safely hidden by me."
The light of the teleportation array flashes, starting its transportation!
"...."
And then, nothing happens.
"Ha, haha... Finally caught you, you damned thief. It really was a close call."
Wo-woong—
Jin Byuk-ho gasps for breath as he enters the inside of the teleportation array.
Sweating coldly, I look around.
'The teleportation array isn't working...!'
"Since your claim of being under the Sea Dragon King also seems like a lie, I will first use the traditional punishment method of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect and impale you on a lightning pillar for 100 days. Then..."
"Look here, Sect Leader."
"Are you scared? But the crime of kidnapping a disciple and stealing the divine artifact of the sect..."
"Sect Leader!"
I shout out loud, trembling.
Shiiing—
The light of the teleportation array is fading.
Simultaneously, through the vision of the Earth Tribe, I capture the flow of heaven and earth spiritual energy acting strangely.
"I knew you were crazy, but to scream in this situation... Uh...!"
Gulp!
Jin Byuk-ho stumbles as he approaches me, spewing out a mouthful of blood.
Not just that.
Ugh...!
I, too, feel an increasing amount of blood spurting from my organs and my entire body's blood boiling.
'Something's wrong!'
The flow of Yin and Yang is entangled.
The laws of the world are flowing wildly.
Kwaang!
I swing my fist, breaking the ceiling of the teleportation array building, and look up at the sky.
My eyes widen.
The celestial energy, which had been fine until a moment ago, is twisting like crazy!
"Ah, ah...?"
—Thank you. Thank you so much. I'm deeply grateful.
In the next moment, endless words of gratitude echo from the Heavenly Lightning Banner.
—Finally, I can return to my rightful master....
"What, what's this...?"
—Thank you. Thank you very much. To speak a name out loud is to utter fate itself. The act of 'fate speaking' has resounded through the Three Thousand Worlds... Now, my master can find me at any moment!
Zzzt, zzztzzzt...!
Simultaneously, amidst the twisted flow of Yin and Yang, lightning energy begins to appear.
It starts with static electricity circling the entire body.
But the static electricity gradually intensifies, creating a powerful electric force.
Soon, not only I but also all buildings and pedestrians above Heavenly Human Island begin to be engulfed in lightning.
"Ah...ahh..."
I sincerely regret learning the name of the Heavenly Lightning Banner.
I shouldn't have carelessly uttered it.
I have learned knowledge that should not have been carelessly known.
Gulp—
The sky splits in two and 'opens.'
Beyond the opened sky, a gigantic 'eye' that fills the entire sky begins to gaze down upon Heavenly Human Island.
A True Immortal, from a faraway dimension, begins to peer down upon this land in its true form.
***
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