Reincarnation Sword God

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**Chapter: True Martial Home**

Mimicking Lee Cheong-un, I conjured a thunder whip in my hands and swung it at Musashi. Among the martial arts passed down to the Thunder God Lineage, there were also techniques for tricks and deception, and I was trying it out with the Thunder Spirit Technique I could use.

*Whiz!*

In an instant, the whip of lightning surrounded Musashi’s body, aiming to slice him apart, but Musashi effortlessly severed the thunder whip. Seizing the moment, I activated the essential technique.

**Thunder Spirit of the Divine!**

**True Kun Trigram!**

*Kraack!*

The *I Ching* can be interpreted in three ways: unchanging, simplicity, and change. Lee Cheong-un had explained that the Thunder Spirit was the absolute martial art containing an array of trigrams, embodying one of the many forms of the Eight Trigrams. Moreover, countless insights of the Thunder Spirit naturally allowed the user to initiate a thunder transformation, like intricate gears fitting together seamlessly.

Though I hadn’t reached the level of transforming with the Thunder Spirit, I had continuously received study results on that essential technique from Lee Cheong-un and Jin So-cheong. Thus, extracting only the True Kun Trigram from the main martial arts essentials was undoubtedly within my grasp to temporarily unleash a stronger Thunder Spirit Technique. Besides, since the Thunder Spirit originated from the study of the Eight Trigrams, knowledge of Ji-seon Mang-nyang lay beneath my recollection.

*Chiiiiing!!!*

The Thunder Spirit surrounding my entire body sparkled brightly, making me appear like a human lightning bolt. Of course, this was merely the Thunder Spirit wrapped around me, not a transformation. I focused the Thunder Spirit on my forehead and wielded the Thunderclap, shaping the Heavenly Thunder to bend to my will.

*“Thunder is mine!”*

*Boom!*

In an instant, lightning struck where my will directed it! Musashi, employing quick reflexes, predicted the murderous intent of the strike and dodged, though he stared at me, clearly startled.

*“You control lightning?”*

*“Guess you read my intent, but you won’t dodge this time.”*

I shot back briefly and concentrated. This time, I amplified my intent and rotated the True Kun Trigram significantly, creating a flow of nature that felt almost tangible. After a brief moment, my eyes widened.

*Ka-boom!*

In that moment, a blinding light fell and enveloped Musashi’s body. This time, he couldn’t evade and took the hit head-on—no matter how extraordinary he was, he couldn’t dodge everything within his mind! Besides, I struck while erasing my intent; how could he escape?

Yet—at that instant, in the realm of the absolute master, it felt like Musashi was performing a sword dance.

*“No…”*

It seemed Musashi had anticipated the attack. He met the descending lightning with the blade of his long saber, dispersing the Thunder Power while brushing off the aftermath of the Thunder Spirit with a single motion. The final act of that fluid movement was a *slash*, and as soon as I witnessed it, chills ran down my spine.

*“He’s cutting the lightning?!”*

*Piying!*

I couldn’t believe my eyes. The unreal essence of a lightning strike, which could be called nature itself, was being sliced as if it were silk by Musashi’s blade. Was my vision deceiving me? But with the Fire Eye Golden Spirit focused solely on clarity, that couldn’t be the case.

Good grief! Sure, one could split waves or waterfalls with intent, but slicing the thunder was an order of magnitude more difficult! Reaching that sort of divinity in Dongyoung’s swordplay—was that even possible?

After two powerful strikes completely tore apart the lightning, Musashi glided toward me like he was skating, and in a flash, launched a hundred rapid jabs.

**Treasure Repository Style!**

**Hundred Thunder Annihilation!**

*Ka-ka-ka-king!*

*“Gah!”*

What is this?!

*“I’ve never seen martial arts like this.”*

Was he transforming spear techniques into swordplay? The only certainty was that his technique was far superior and far more precise than that from the Sickle Demon lineage, a hallmark of masters! Realizing I had to utilize the Ninety-Nine Harmonized Techniques against such terrifying offensive brilliance, I braced myself to meet that barrage of strikes. Each thrust was laden with a murderous intent strong enough to kill a sword hero, and I had to concentrate solely on blocking, barely managing to catch my breath as I defended.

*Ka-ka-king!*

*Ka-king!*

My blood boiled. Musashi’s innate killing intent was so intense that I couldn’t draw my gaze away from him. It was hard to believe that a mere human could radiate such lethal energy. It wasn’t due to an inherited nature; how could someone be born with such an overwhelming aura? As I witnessed the crimson glow emanating from his eyes, I felt my fighting spirit wavering.

*“But… I can’t just…”*

*Pa-at!*

Noticing that Musashi’s onslaught was beginning to breach my defensive perimeter, I took advantage of the moment to employ the Soul Removal Technique and retreated. My movements accelerated unexpectedly as I distanced myself from Musashi; he halted his barrage and stood tall. Musashi looked perplexed and spoke once more.

*“What was that technique?”*

*“Thunder God Vision: Soul Removal!”*

*“Wudang Sect and the Thunder God? Uniquely formidable.”*

*“Not that I want to hear this from you.”*

I fumed, shedding Lee Cheong-un’s mask to don another.

*Ssssss!*

**Shadowless Soul Stealing Sword Technique!**

This time, I closed the gap again, attacking Musashi head-on. As I approached, Musashi aimed to sever my throat with his quick swordplay, but I formed a barrier with my Shadow Sword, absorbing his counterattack while targeting his eyes. Though Musashi was barely a breath behind in defending against my Soul Stealing sword technique, in that moment, he leaped into the air to evade.

*“Ugh, he’s wise to me!”*

The true terror of the Shadowless Soul Stealing Sword Technique lay in the blend of truth and deception; one would think they had blocked it only for the unseen sword edge to strike at their vital points. I had planned to inflict an injury using that intricate technique, but it seemed he deciphered it in just a second. While careful observation could yield such results, recognizing it so rapidly in the heat of battle displayed an almost supernatural talent—I truly believed that guy might be a genius rivaling Jin So-cheong.

*“Retreat again…”*

*Pa-at!*

Realizing that if I pressed on with the imperfect Shadowless Soul Stealing Sword Technique, I would instead end up entangled in Musashi’s overwhelming skills, I opted once more for the Soul Removal Technique to widen the gap. If Musashi had achieved the absolute realm with the Shadowless Soul Stealing Sword Technique, then facing him directly using it was at least a century too soon for me.

As I retreated a good distance, Musashi expressed his displeasure with a frown.

*“What’s your game? Do you plan to flounder around with such half-baked tricks? If you want to charge, then come at me full throttle!”*

*“Are you angry?”*

*“……”*

*“I think I should make you angrier!”*

*Bam bam!*

This time, I donned the mask of Hong Gil-dong from the Toad Clan as well as the ruler of Yul-do, and feigned his empty **One Hundred Eight Illusions**. However, instead of a hundred illusions, only four clones manifested, which left me momentarily dumbfounded. Was the gap in ability this vast, even in mere caricature?

*“Ugh, looks like the art of cloning requires extreme proficiency…”*

I grimaced, dividing my energy equally among the four clones, lunging toward Musashi.

*“Go!”*

Musashi’s eyebrows twitched, and he spoke.

*“The techniques of Grand Elder Hong Gil-dong. What’s your relationship with him?”*

*Thwack!*

Musashi sliced apart the four clones in just one sweep. I summoned yet another batch of clones to aid me, but Musashi cut them down again, looking increasingly irritated as he swatted away my clones like twigs. When I thought it was utterly pointless to deploy clones, Musashi suddenly moved forward, appearing to teleport, and threatened to slice my neck.

*…Sword Drawing Technique!*

The speed of his attack was so dizzying that it nearly claimed my head, but due to the martial arts skills I had amassed, I sensed the split-second danger and barely slipped away by a hair’s breadth.

*Swish!*

Instead, I received a long cut across my throat, and with the Soul Removal Technique, I retreated backwards. Fortunately, it seemed like there was no method in Musashi’s arsenal that could chase me while I used the Soul Removal Technique, allowing me to escape perilously.

*“Hmm, yet he doesn’t seem fatigued…”*

While Musashi complained, his demeanor and skills remained completely unaffected. Despite his outward irritation, he maintained strict control over his mind, meaning he was consistently operating at peak combat efficiency—and that confirmed he was an elite swordsman.

For a fleeting thought, I considered waiting several days for him to tire, like I did with Yong Junil; however, that felt like a naive approach.

Musashi was different from Yong Junil. While Yong Junil’s Four Divine Sword Form was indeed exceptional, it lacked that overwhelming essence found in the absolute realm. Conversely, Musashi possessed an indomitable spirit that would fight to the bitter end even when on the verge of death; using such tactics recklessly would be courting my own demise.

“Musashi. Why don’t we settle this decisively with your ultimate technique and my Peerless Technique? If I block it, I win; if not, you win.”

Upon making the suggestion, Musashi sneered at me.

*“Do you think me a fool? You expect me to fight seamlessly against a martial arts technique that nullifies everything with the harmony of yin and yang?”*

*“……”*

*“You may have many grappling techniques, but I pay no mind. Let’s see this through to the end!”*

*“Alright, I get it.”*

Clenching my teeth, I shifted my mask once more. It was the mask of the Thunderbolt Three Saints under the Red Moon.

*“Try this on for size!”*

**Thunder God Rotation Punch!**

A technique derived from when Lee Cheong-un compelled the Thunderbolt Three Saints to surrender! This was primarily a secret technique used by Jeong Yun-bo, which, upon reaching its peak state, erupted into a deadly cyclone of thunderous winds! The cyclone generated by the rotation punch smashed through the surrounding palace, disorienting the vision as Musashi sliced through the cyclone’s radius with his blade, allowing me to retract the mask of the Red Moon while extending my palm forward.

*Thunder Spirit Seal!*

*Kaboom!*

The simple destruction came from the renowned hand skill of the Thunder Spirit Seal! Musashi failed to slice through it from the front and narrowly escaped as it skidded past his nose. It could be attributed not only to wearing the mask of the Red Moon but also to my frequent use of the Thunder Spirit Seal during my reincarnation, naturally leading me to achieve that peak state.

**Nine Nether Qi!**

**Hell King’s Hand!**

Continuing on from the Thunder Spirit Seal, I poured massive internal power into that hand, unwilling to let it cease. Musashi didn’t retreat and began to cut down every one of my attacks with a blade steeped in intent. The moment a slight gap emerged, I swiftly changed masks once again, transforming into the mask of the Thunderbolt Three Saints under the Blue Moon while executing my secret technique.

**Soul Removal Technique: Heaven’s Light!**

Twelve fragments of light, crafted from the essence of light, surged amid the swirling thunderous winds, resembling a shadow clone technique akin to Hong Gil-dong’s but with a different goal altogether. I recalled instructions from the Supreme Thief, who had explained to me once:

*“Those who have witnessed the peak of the Soul Removal Technique can evolve it into the Heaven’s Light.”*

*“Evolve?”*

*“The true might of the evolved Heaven’s Light is…”*

*Slash!*

Just as Musashi attempted to slice down one of the light entities approaching him—

I can see the path linking to the light entity!

This is the pinnacle of the Soul Removal Technique!

In that instant, I immediately moved to where the light entity had been and struck down toward the back of Musashi’s neck. Musashi tried to counter my ambush, but at that moment, I jumped to another light entity, enabling me to change angles completely.

**Heaven’s Light!**

**Soul Removal Dance of Death!**

*Swish, swish, swish, swish!*

*“Huh!”*

As the light shards merely grazed the spots where I had appeared like a goblin, Musashi looked quite flustered. Challenging as it was, regardless of how fast the technique was, appearing without prior indication to execute my attack was absolutely unexpected. The peak of the Soul Removal Technique crafted by the Grand Elder of the Thunder God lineage proved to be far more potent than anticipated.

*“I see a gap!”*

*Boom!*

Yet Musashi bellowed with rage, shattering the space embodying the Soul Removal Dance with a blade infused with his celestial essence and unleashed his ultimate technique.

**Divine Kill Slash!**

*“……!!”*

The entirety of Musashi’s power coalesced in the form of the Spirit Sword, akin to him being a peerless divine sword! Though it seemed premature to unleash such a risky move!

However, I quickly grasped that Musashi had executed the decisive move at the right moment.

While it appeared I had relentlessly pressed him with my Soul Removal Dance, I realized I had access to his offensive range—an oversight whilst weaving through the flow of combat. The chances I had left while executing the dance had put me squarely in his line of sight.

*“Gah…”*

*Whoosh!*

I swiftly transitioned into the state of the Peerless Technique, harmonizing the powers of yin and yang to generate an extreme force from within. Dipping into my unconsciousness, I executed the Peerless Technique.

**The Inflection Point of Yin and Yang.**

As my Peerless Technique absorbed the Divine Kill Slash, I could feel Musashi’s blade pressing against the Tai Chi within! The moment I reached the line of inflection, I caught wind of how Musashi’s Divine Kill Slash abruptly twisted the sword’s edge, creating a reverse trajectory.

*What is he doing?*

But soon enough, I sensed Musashi’s Divine Kill Slash was on a collision course with an infinitesimal gap that had formed at the transition of yin and yang, almost resembling a stitch tearing apart.

*“No?! How…?”*

How could he sever the Tai Chi of the Peerless Technique?

This wasn’t a physical entity nor was it an energy like sword intent or qi transforming into existence. It was merely a concept and somehow…

Yet right before my eyes, that very phenomenon manifested. And as Musashi’s Divine Kill Slash ruptured the harmony of the Tai Chi, splitting the yin and yang apart, the words of the Supreme Thief surfaced in my mind.

*“That’s merely a fixed notion. Martial arts possess life and intent.”*

*“For someone of my caliber, those words resonate clearly, and I can hear the heart… well, I believe that’s talent acquired since childhood! Not that I can read minds, but I can hear them.”*

*“To steal what does not exist, first bring that object into existence, manifest it within your mind. Once the void transforms into substance, read the flow and steal as you desire. That is the ultimate Essence of All Things Technique.”*

To steal what does not exist, one must convert the void into substance. Moreover, concepts have life and emotive qualities.

*I must hear that sound.*

*…Could it be that Musashi has ascended to the level where he can touch the unmanifested like the Essence of All Things Technique?*

*Slice!!*

In that instant, I staggered back five steps, blood pouring from my hand. Before me stood Musashi, clearly drained yet restored with vigor, gasping for air. The aftermath of the Divine Kill Slash had consumed his strength, but his demeanor radiated freshness.

*“I’m awake.”*

*“……”*

*“Consider it half-broken.”*

The tides had turned in my favor. While my hand was bloodied, Musashi had lost so much more. Yet, the shock of having my Peerless Technique pierced left me momentarily speechless. Unlike back when the Celestial Sage had simply bewitched me with his deceit, Musashi had driven his sword into the manifestation of the Tai Chi to forcefully tear it apart.

*“What a monster…”*

Suddenly, my pride as a martial artist ignited within me. As the moment my ultimate defense—my Peerless Technique—shattered, I felt my sense of dignity crumble. Though I knew I could win by simply stalling while employing my techniques, doing so wouldn’t feel like a true victory.

To think I couldn’t directly conquer Musashi now was a notion I couldn’t bear.

*Clench!*

I clutched the iron sword tightly with my blood-soaked hand. Slowly, I changed my mask once more.

This would likely be my final mask in this battle.

My body gradually shifted into the stance for the Heavenly Escape Sword Technique.

*“I want to see my reflection.”*

*“Is the inner Yeodong-bin smiling?”*

**Six Intent Saintly Heaven Diagram**

*Cloud Decision!*

And with that, I charged straight at Musashi.

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