NOVEL NEXT Chapter 645
Chapter 645: Dark Heaven Village
It was the moment when the radiance of Heart of Heaven’s Abundance flickered around the Master of the White Lotus Sect.
“Gah!”
“Ugh!”
The Master of Zen was flung away by the fist pressure, and Bright Dragon sat down with a broken rib before he could even block the attack with his sword. Lee Kwang, sensing the ominous atmosphere, put all his effort into dodging the strikes instead of trying to display his basic techniques.
*Thud!*
It seemed both Jin So-cheong and the Sword Demon took a hit, managing to fend it off somehow. However, in the moment of their stiffened response, the Sect Leader unleashed a barrage of strikes, causing their formation to crumble.
Although they managed to defend using the application of the Ultimate Technique, there was a limit to how much they could withstand pure force.
*Boom!*
Aside from the Master of the White Lotus Sect, no one stood firm.
It all happened in just a second. They were all top experts in the world, yet with just a single activation of Heart of Heaven’s Abundance, a majority of them were subdued! Even Jin So-cheong and the Sword Demon couldn’t retaliate, clearly showing the gap in their prowess.
‘Huh?’
Strangely, the Sect Leader didn’t attack me. As I pondered this, I made eye contact with him, and the Sect Leader spoke.
[This is no place for a boy like you; step aside. I have no desire to harm a child.]
“……”
I realized then that I had been intentionally suppressing my internal power. A chuckle escaped me as I understood that the Sect Leader didn’t even consider me an enemy, but I still said,
“Sect Leader, I have a question.”
[Hmm.]
*Whoosh!*
He seemed to dismiss me lightly, as if I were not worth his time. With that wave, a force so daunting it was hard to resist erupted, creating a tempest capable of destroying the palace in an instant. But I maximized my internal power.
*Crack!*
[……!!]
As the Sect Leader’s energy clashed with my unleashed internal power in the void, it seemed to cancel each other out. The experts of the White Lotus Sect watching from behind stirred, and even the Dharma Protectors flinched. It was no surprise; nullifying a single move of the Sect Leader with my internal power was, by conventional standards, impossible.
‘My internal power significantly surpasses the Master of Zen’s.’
I asked the Sect Leader, who was staring at me curiously.
[Did you achieve Half-Transition?]
“I’ll leave that to your imagination.”
[Fine, I’ll grant that you have the right to be here…]
I quickly sensed that the Sect Leader would soon retaliate. While he had just barely introduced Heart of Heaven’s Abundance, the next attack would surely be terrifying. Therefore, I blurted out the question that was on my mind.
“If by sacrificing 30,000 lives, 10 billion can be saved… is that sacrifice truly necessary?”
I wanted to ask this again.
It was a story that had come up in Yeodong-bin’s flashback about Master Mangnyang – it somehow resembled the actions of the Sect Leader in my 19th cycle.
Silence filled the air.
My sudden, context-less question left those around me with bewildered expressions, but the Sect Leader was different. He stroked the Shadowless Soul Steal Technique he had summoned, seemingly unbothered by the six Peak Masters surrounding him, and said,
[That’s quite out of context. Why do you ask me such a thing?]
“I just want to know.”
[Are you an extraordinary person?]
The Sect Leader, who had been chuckling, finally answered my question.
[To save 10 billion by sacrificing 30,000… that sacrifice is natural.]
“How can you say it’s natural? Are 30,000 lives not lives?”
When I retorted, the Sect Leader replied.
[You seem to be quite a peculiar being. Your martial prowess is impressive.]
“……”
[You all gave me the impression that you had a special purpose for seeking me out… but for now, I shall answer your question.]
The Sect Leader’s cold gaze fell upon me.
[So, if I let 10 billion be damned, is there a guarantee that 30,000 can survive?]
“That’s… not certain, but isn’t there a way to save all 30,000 together?”
[Wasn’t the discussion about sacrificing 30,000 to prevent the calamity that would kill 10 billion? It seems the roles have reversed.]
“It may be a slim chance, but I wonder if it’s wrong to give up simply because the chance is low.”
[Somehow, I feel I know what you’re trying to say…]
After a brief silence, he spoke.
[If such a situation were to befall me, I would not hesitate to sacrifice 30,000. Not everyone can be saved.]
“Even if those 30,000 were members of your sect?”
[Indeed.]
The Sect Leader answered without hesitation.
But in that moment – I felt the momentum of the Dharma Protectors who had been watching from behind change drastically. It was but a fleeting change, yet I sensed it. A significant emotional upheaval emanated from Han Baek-ryeong and Cheon Woo-jin.
‘Was it worth the effort to shake them?’
What this shift would mean later would be something to observe. Regardless, it was vital to confirm the Sect Leader’s true intentions and cause a crack in the hearts of the Dharma Protectors. The Sect Leader continued speaking.
[It seems you come from a world behind the veil. If so, I will capture you all here today and learn about you slowly.]
*Crackle, crackle!*
The Mandala arose around the Master of the White Lotus Sect, shaking as if the space rippled like the surface of water. It seemed that the center of the Mandala was being sucked into a dark hole like a whirlpool. I understood that this phenomenon occurred when he intended to launch an offensive with Heart of Heaven’s Abundance. Simultaneously, it represented his intent to unleash all his power in an instant to easily subdue us.
‘I have to try.’
In this situation, even saving only our allies through a technique felt unrealistic.
Now that things had progressed this far, it was the right moment to see if I could stand against the power of the Sect Leader.
In that fleeting moment, Jin So-cheong, the Sword Demon, and I exchanged glances. We shared no signals, yet as experts, we communicated through our senses. Our commonality lay in having learned similar martial arts, including the Seven Great Techniques and the Eight Immortal Divine Art, meaning in some sense we were from the same school.
The characteristic of Heart of Heaven’s Abundance is that it’s an invincible martial art where attack and defense become one, but even that art has its drawbacks. It wouldn’t exactly be called a weakness, but all martial arts are relative; tactical maneuvering could greatly influence its power.
The first to move was the Sword Demon. He summoned numerous shadow swords using his intent, creating an overwhelming number. Hundreds of shadow swords formed various weapon shapes, flying off as Hand’s Control Sword Techniques at his beckoning.
*Bang!*
However, the shadow swords disintegrated as soon as they reached the front of Heart of Heaven’s Abundance. They lacked the strength to pierce the infinite power contained within the Mandala. As the Sect Leader reinforced his defense by gathering a bit of strength into Heart of Heaven’s Abundance, Jin So-cheong moved with the finesse of the Three Treasure Technique, charging with spectacular speed like a shooting star, following right behind the disintegrating shadow swords.
*Whoosh!*
Just as the shadow swords were about to fade, a mysterious light burst forth from Jin So-cheong’s spear tip like an arrow. I recognized it as a new ultimate technique combining the strength-altering skill of the Five Elements with the Reverse Heaven-Wheel. With the ability to flexibly change its properties, the five elements melded together and added a tracking mechanism, causing the qi to stretch like candy and envelop the weak point of Heart of Heaven’s Abundance in a three-chapter range.
*Crack!!*
‘It’s my turn!’
In fact, when Jin So-cheong made her move, I moved almost simultaneously. I didn’t know what technique she would employ, but I believed she would indeed create an opening in Heart of Heaven’s Abundance alongside the Sword Demon. As the power of Thunder God wrapped around the Mandala, momentarily pausing the Sect Leader, I unleashed my maximum potential.
*Thunder God Sword Dance!*
*Sword Thunder!*
The power of the National Seal merged rapidly with my internal power, transforming into the overwhelming energy of Sword Thunder. This potent force coalesced into my sword, resulting in a fierce, azure glimmer that resonated mightily. The opening was minuscule, yet I managed to find that slight gap and thrust with all my might.
*Shh!*
My sword blade slipped into the Mandala’s space. The Sect Leader seemed to notice and, in an instant, redirected his gaze toward me. The Sword Thunder technique had the power to cut through Protection Energy Techniques, leaving no exceptions for even the Absolute Realm’s Muwak. However, the Sect Leader’s response was delayed, and in the next moment, my Sword Thunder pierced through his domain, driving straight into his chest.
*Boom!!*
The Sect Leader’s right palm swung, and as he evaded, a volley of qi rained upon me. I quickly dodged with the Three Treasure Technique, inwardly smacking my lips.
‘That should have been a completely unexpected strike, yet he managed to switch to retaliation from that situation… truly remarkable is Heart of Heaven’s Abundance.’
The only true weakness of Heart of Heaven’s Abundance lay in its momentary lapse when focusing on either offense or defense. However, even with the Sect Leader’s ordinary defense featuring the infinite internal power of Primordial Spirit, it was a circumstance that no expert could breach.
But as someone who had known the Sect Leader for a long time, I, along with the others, possessed enough skill to exploit that momentary weakness and took a stab at him. In the following moment, we realized this strategy could effectively work against the Sect Leader.
*Swish!*
The three of us surrounded the Sect Leader in the form of the Three Talents Formation. Meanwhile, the Master of Zen, Bright Dragon, and Lee Kwang steadied themselves, maintaining a safe distance while probing the formation from outside. All, being experts, understood what had transpired and crafted the most suitable formation accordingly.
Even in the face of an ambush, the Sect Leader seemed amused as he said,
[To think you’d overcome the absolute disparity in skill purely through techniques… have you discerned the weaknesses of my Mandala?]
“Evade!!”
I yelled sharply. This was due to the fact that even while the Sect Leader performed the Six Harmonies Assembly, he was secretly summoning the Mandala, preparing dozens of offensive strikes discreetly. Being a disciple who had trained under him for years, it was an instinct I couldn’t shake.
*Wham!*
“Cough!”
The Master of Zen and Bright Dragon managed to block two of the intangible qi waves emanating from the Mandala, but by the third, they were swept away and fainted. Lee Kwang, on the other hand, barely held on as he quickly retreated, illustrating that the difference wasn’t in their martial arts but in their mindset at that moment. The Master of Zen and Bright Dragon had ventured into danger, contemplating a counterattack alongside us three, whereas Lee Kwang had no such thoughts, leading to his survival.
I clenched my teeth inwardly.
‘What a monster…’
How could the Master of the White Lotus Sect, capable of ending the lives of the top experts in the martial world in just a couple of strikes using Heart of Heaven’s Abundance, not be a monster? As seen in the case of the Master of Zen, the elevation of internal power became meaningless before the infinite Primordial Spirit. Even having rough knowledge of his habits and strengths from my past lives, armed with the ability to devise a strategy alongside my colleagues, I still saw no clear means of winning.
Only the three of us could defeat the Sect Leader here. Implicitly, both friend and foe acknowledged this fact. As the chilling killing intent brushed past, the Mandala summoned by the Sect Leader roared.
*Roar!*
Just before the Mandala unleashed its energy, without a thought, all three of us utilized our techniques in unison.
*Shadowless Soul Steal Technique!*
*Ninety-Nine Harmonious Returns!*
*Sword Thunder!*
As we each performed our distinct techniques, we absorbed the Mandala’s assault and read the trajectory of the Sect Leader’s terrifying counterattack. In a flash, thousands of dazzling beams suffused the air, yet we, amidst extreme tension, prepared our counterattacks as we deflected the Sect Leader’s attack with composure.
At the moment of Heart Command Technique, I heard the Sect Leader mumbling in the void.
[I’m feeling quite joyful right now.]
Beyond the Shadowless Soul Steal Technique, the Sect Leader seemed to be smiling.
[Do not disappoint me, please.]
The instant I heard those words, it became clear to me.
The Sect Leader was eagerly accepting worthy opponents capable of withstanding his martial arts, losing himself in the thrill of battle.
*Boom!*
‘My hands ache.’
It had just been two hundred and fifty seconds since we began our joint assault. Although we had never specifically practiced this joint technique, everyone was grasping the essence of the formation and adjusting their movements based on the distant Heart Command while synchronizing our breaths. Therefore, even the Sect Leader’s Heart of Heaven’s Abundance couldn’t easily hit us as he dragged out the time.
“Whoa, whoa…!!”
“What kind of duel is this…!!”
Yet to the spectators, it appeared otherwise; they all looked astonished. The level of the battle must have been unseen to them, merely perceiving gusts of wind and flashes of light. Meanwhile, we were the ones feeling the burden of the fight.
If this goes on, we will lose.
It wasn’t just me; Jin So-cheong and the Sword Demon must have sensed it too. All three of us had exceptionally high skill levels from our previous lives, but that merely allowed us to withstand Heart of Heaven’s Abundance. To truly aim for victory, greater strength was necessary, and we were still lacking. The Sect Leader, equipped with the Absolute Realm and Primordial Spirit, held immense significance in that regard.
Moreover, given his infinite internal power and stamina, the longer the battle dragged on, the more favorable it would be for him.
Of course, I could also draw upon tremendous internal power and the strength of the National Seal, so I would try my utmost in direct confrontations—yet I doubted my capacity to endure past a thousand seconds.
Just when I was pondering what to do.
*Shhh…*
Suddenly, the Master of the White Lotus Sect lowered his aura and landed softly on the ground. He ceased all attacks and counterattacks, adopting a purely defensive posture, resembling an impregnable fortress so that we too could no longer afford to attack, circling around him quietly.
The Sect Leader spoke.
[The outcome is already apparent. You know this, don’t you?]
“……”
Even he wasn’t a fool; he recognized that the long-term odds were undeniably in his favor.
[However, your martial arts cannot be explained by mere phrases of the mundane.]
“Sect Leader! What do you wish to say?”
As his next words followed, we momentarily froze.
[If you submit to me here, I will forgive everything. I also wish to obtain that martial art.]