NOVEL NEXT Chapter 816
Chapter 16: The Jade Emperor’s Decree
“Isn’t this messier than I thought?”
I once believed that being a Count came with respect and riches, but boy, was I mistaken.
“I refuse to eat this slop!”
“Aida, there are people outside who would kill for this. Quit whining.”
My younger sister Aida tossed the bread aside and broke into tears while our father, Count Bradley Somerset, scolded her fiercely.
I looked at the spread before us, thinking a noble family meal would at least resemble something better than what we had.
The table was set with a watery, unrecognizable soup and bread that seemed more akin to stones.
Honestly, it was hardly fit for even a child.
Determined, I dunked the bread into the soup, but just as I tore it apart—
Crack!
Did I just hear something snap?
—
816——————==
True Martial Home
Thinking of breaking that Peerless Technique with force, huh?!
I unleashed the peerless power of the Peerless Technique, preparing to clash against the overwhelming might of the Celestial Sage’s attack. Just as my strength reached the realm of nothingness, the Celestial Sage’s might met me head-on.
Woosh—
The Celestial Sage’s power was imposing. It was the strongest attack I’d faced with my Peerless Technique, surpassing even the Asura’s absolute realm in sheer destructive capability. It felt unfathomable for a living being to wield such force—capable of inciting an earthquake with just a punch. Yet, the Peerless Technique was the ultimate counter to any attack! As the image of Tai Chi emerged before me, I realized I could nullify even this unfathomable power. In that moment, the Celestial Sage sent another strike my way, and again, I blocked it effortlessly.
Boom!
The Celestial Sage stepped back, grinning slyly.
“Heh, so in a one-on-one scenario, you’re still the ultimate defender? I knew this back when I watched Old Man Jang Sam-bong take down the thirty-three celestial generals.”
“Oh, so you knew… then quit talking and let’s get down to it.”
“I have nothing to say.”
The Celestial Sage waved his arms playfully and continued speaking.
“I’ve found your weakness! Time to shatter it.”
“What?”
A weakness, you say?
Something in me sparked in anger, and I challenged him back.
“Are you just bluffing? Was that punch not your full power?”
“Not a bluff. That punch was definitely my best shot.”
“Then…”
“Hey, focus! That’s what makes it fun.”
Swish!
The Celestial Sage took on the same stance, muscles bulging as he gathered his fearsome strength again. But I felt no fear because the Peerless Technique counters ‘force’ with its ultimate nature. Even if his attack had ten times the power, I was confident I could handle it.
Wiying!
But in the next moment, the Celestial Sage multiplied. Clones emerged from his stance, surrounding me in such numbers that the sky and ground seemed to vanish. At least hundreds of clones raised their fists at me, closing in rapidly.
“Hah!!”
Come at me!!
I grinned and concentrated.
“I’ve trained endlessly for one versus many situations!”
Those facing the Peerless Technique often thought they could overwhelm me through sheer numbers, but it wasn’t such a shallow technique. People might think there are limits to human limbs and actions, but the field of my Peerless Technique practically covered my immediate vicinity.
Tududu!
Moments later, hundreds of Celestial Sage’s clones charged at me, as if a tide of power was crashing down, wrapping my surroundings in darkness. It was a terrifying sight, yet I knew I wouldn’t fall.
No Effort Transition!
At that moment, my body manifested the Tai Chi, transforming into a singular system. No need to use hands or feet, as the energy of the Peerless Technique enveloped me, and my breathing completely halted. It wasn’t just stopping; my entire being was communicating with the forces of Heaven, Earth, and People, exposing no more weaknesses. Refined Tai Chi flowed through the void, completely dissolving the overwhelming physical force bombarding me from all sides.
A strange white light spiraled around me, engulfing the approaching clones of the Celestial Sage without a sound. At the same time, I redirected the transformed power into building my dominance, with that dominance becoming the very source of my Tai Chi.
No exertion spent nullifying the enemy’s attack!!
Proudly, I realized I had defended against all of the Celestial Sage’s strikes without using any energy, but suddenly, I felt the lethargic approach of the Celestial Sage’s Ruyi Staff.
Kaboom….
So sluggish.
It wasn’t just the sensation of time slowing down; it really was slow.
Even a third-rate martial artist could probably sense and dodge that lazy swing – why would the Sage attack like this?
But I refused to relax and prepared to negate the strike with the Peerless Technique. However, the moment the Celestial Sage’s staff breached the space of my Peerless Technique, I immediately sensed a strange disharmony within the veil I had created.
“……?!”
What the heck?!
I couldn’t understand why, but the space of my No Effort Transition was slowly beginning to tear. I panicked, unsure why, but quickly reactivated the Peerless Technique to restore balance.
…Not happening!
‘Huh?!’
Trying to gather my strength again, but the harmony of the Peerless Technique wouldn’t settle. The balance of Yin and Yang was off, and any misalignment in my dominance felt like it could explode my body.
While I wasted time, the Celestial Sage’s staff inched closer and soon touched my solar plexus, and I glanced at him, wide-eyed in disbelief. Then I watched as the Celestial Sage smirked and unleashed the Threading Power from the tip of the Ruyi Staff, completely tearing apart my Protection Energy Technique.
Boom!
“Cough!!”
I coughed up blood, flying off and crashing to the ground. I survived, managing some minimal Meridian defense, but it was practically a fatal wound. The Celestial Sage seemed adept in martial arts, having learned how to tear apart the Protection Energy Technique with the Threading Power, leaving me reeling.
As I lay shaking on the ground, the Celestial Sage approached, casually draping his Ruyi Staff over his shoulder.
“See? I broke it.”
“Wha…how?”
“The Peerless Technique is perfect, but that only holds true when Old Man Jang Sam-bong wields it. I could tell you weren’t up to par.”
The Celestial Sage grinned.
“Having been born as the Demon King over a thousand years ago and fighting countless battles, I too understand ‘force’ quite well. I can even see the flow of ‘force.’”
“……”
“Manipulating the flow of ‘force’ to disrupt the space. If the force becomes null, your Peerless Technique’s merely air, right? While you kept swarming me with clones, pushing only with force, you let your own power slip! It seems you never contemplated an approach of null against someone approaching from nothingness〜”
“Ugh…”
The moment I heard his words, I understood why I had lost.
[‘Force’ is tied to ‘mind’; absolute equanimity is essential to fully unleash the Peerless Technique.]
That was a saying that the Immortal Jang Sam-bong drilled into my ears during training. While the Peerless Technique blocks all evil around, its driving force hinges upon the practitioner’s equanimity to achieve perfect Tai Chi. If the equanimity falters, everything spirals back into adversity.
‘The Celestial Sage… is also a master of martial arts.’
He may not wield the Peerless Technique, but he understood the flow of power and intent in the world. So, when I sought to harmonize my Peerless Technique against his strength, he deftly infused his attack with the subtleties of yielding and negative, turning it into nothingness. My Peerless Technique faltered because I could not fathom that he would come at me from an angle of nothingness rather than strength.
Had I kept my composure, or if I were Jang Sam-bong, I would have calmly read the situation, tailoring my Peerless Technique’s harmonics back towards the No Effort Transition. The Celestial Sage’s mockery had rendered my judgment careless; I failed to decipher his ruse.
I had been foolish.
In a wild world, the ability to manage one’s power through restraint was a basic necessity. I should have acknowledged that the Celestial Sage, reigning over the chaotic world full of demons and monsters, could grasp the essence of the Peerless Technique! Moreover, I should’ve considered that the Celestial Sage possessed an instinctive genius in combat, but I overlooked it.
As I wiped the blood from my face and rose, I glared at the Celestial Sage, teeth gritted.
“…I want to fight you for my life.”
I meant it.
Right here, regardless of whether I lived or died, I wanted to wield the Peerless Technique against the Celestial Sage once more. It was a stubborn pride, the fighting spirit of a martial artist who had trained dedicatedly for over a decade. But there was a reason I couldn’t pursue that.
“Why not? You’re not saying you haven’t already risked your life, are you?”
The Celestial Sage responded incredulously, but I held his gaze steadfast.
“I can’t put my life on the line because I have something more important to risk. I can’t die.”
“Hmm…”
“Please. Just for a moment, hear me out. We didn’t come here to rebel against the Celestial Realm.”
The Celestial Sage, who looked as if he might draw his Ruyi Staff at any moment, suddenly softened with interest.
“Hand over the Flame Elemental Sword you swiped, and I’ll consider believing your sincerity.”
“Of course. Just please don’t harm my companions.”
“You really talk a lot, huh? Hand it over already.”
Whoosh!
I immediately retrieved the Flame Elemental Sword from my armor and threw it to him. The Celestial Sage caught it, examining it intently.
Then he spoke.
“I just received word from the Celestial Realm that a Guardian named Gong Gong has broken the seal and escaped. Was that your doing?”
“Yes.”
“Impressive. You have the power to break the curses of the Mythological Age, do you?”
The Celestial Sage eyed me with intrigue.
“Spill the beans. If you don’t share everything you know, you won’t see tomorrow’s sunrise in the Celestial Realm.”
“Are you willing to help?”
“Let’s hear it.”
“Well…, cough.”
I pulled the Obsidian from my pocket to hand over, feeling my body chill. I was desperately holding on with what little energy I had left, but the blow I had received from the Celestial Sage earlier was indeed a severe one. As I crumpled to my knees, the Celestial Sage remarked,
“Are you dying? If you die, then so be it.”
“Cough… I will not die… this…”
I struggled stubbornly to cling to life. I poured all my internal energy into recovery to survive. My condition worsened, and everything before me began to blur.
As I handed over the Obsidian, the Celestial Sage absorbed the memory and looked utterly bewildered.
“No, this… what…?”
“…I don’t have time to explain.”
I opened my bleary eyes and said,
“Please help… you can keep the Flame Elemental Sword, but… I beg you, lend a hand in the battle in the North…”
“…….”
Suddenly, the Celestial Sage fumed.
“Damn! Everything’s gone sideways!”
“Pardon…?”
“I was communicating with the Celestial Realm and maintaining contact with all divine abilities when you handed over that Obsidian! Curse it! If it were another time, this would be fine, but why now…?”
“…Uh….”
Kaboom!
At that moment, there was a sound like the sky shattering, and darkness began to fill the space between Heaven and Earth. Suddenly, a golden aura flooded the sky, and mystical colorful clouds appeared, cascading down like stairways to the ground.
[The Celestial Decree.]
Moments later, a divine voice resonated from beyond the clouds.
[Summoning the Human Baek Woong to meet the Jade Emperor.]