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Chapter 397: With The Wind (2)
Shwaaah!
As I pierce through the barrier formed by the sticky devilish energy, the surroundings brighten.
For a moment, I find myself gaping at the overwhelming scene before me.
Ancient Stones!
Golden ancient stones are shining everywhere!
'Crazy...did they grind up a few islands to create a field of ancient stones?'
It's truly a treasure trove!
In various places, not only ancient stones but also the rare Supervisory Jade and even a couple of Salt Crystals can be seen.
Besides the ancient stones, there are dharma treasures made of coral.
There are also precious stones known as the Seven Treasures, such as tridacna, red beads, glass (玻瓈), lapis lazuli, and agate scattered around, overflowing with spiritual energy.
Above all, the most incredible thing is the pure white palace in the center of this mountain of countless treasures.
It's a palace made of Salt Crystals that Yuk Rin has taken from Penglai Island.
Even I am overwhelmed by this colossal mountain of treasures. Jin Ma-yeol is completely entranced, unable to regulate his breathing, inhaling and exhaling repeatedly.
Seizing the opportunity, I quickly dash toward the Salt Crystal Palace.
Just then.
Flash!
Snow white sword energy scatters a chilling sword light from behind me.
I hurriedly turn and block Jin Ma-yeol's sword light.
'This is...!'
My arm tingles.
There's no way that Jin Ma-yeol could have produced such sword light.
When I turn to look at him, Jin Ma-yeol has already drawn a pure white sword from the pile of treasures and is pointing it at me.
'Crazy, just what is that...'
It's a sword made of pure white Salt Crystals.
Around the sword, the space is subtly trembling, and the engraved characters 'Reforming Calendar (改曆)' on the sword glows softly, exuding a formidable presence.
"Do you know the myth about the God of Artisans, 'the Heavenly Craftsman'? The artisan who created countless immortal treasures was said to have crafted a treasure to contain the power of the God of Calendar. Long ago, a Quasi-Immortal at the Entering Nirvana stage witnessed a shadow of that treasure and was so moved that they attempted to create a replica with Salt Crystals, producing three pieces...but in the end, failed, leaving only three failures."
"...What's your point?"
"This is a replica of the Immortal Treasure Reforming Calendar!!!"
Bo-oong!
Once again, Jin Ma-yeol swings Reforming Calendar, and a sword light that matches Kim Young-hoon's Surpassing Radiant Saber is produced from his hand.
Bo-oong!
I swing the All-Heavens Sword to shatter that sword light, then narrow my eyes.
'I was pushed back...!'
After deflecting the sword light, my foot was pushed back a full chi (1.1 feet; 33 cm).
With Jin Ma-yeol's original skill, such a thing would have been impossible.
Bo-oong!
I too look around, trying to find a useful dharma artifact, but there isn't a single weapon-type dharma artifact in sight.
And I quickly realized why that is.
Clang, clang, clang!
Dozens of swords, sabers, spears, and divine weapons are suddenly embedded around Jin Ma-yeol.
'That bastard...'
That pirate bastard had swiftly unfolded his Integrated Dao Domain the moment he entered to gather the treasures.
'Seeing it now, that bastard's Integrated Dao Domain is specialized not in concealment, but in thievery.'
I confirm that his greed and his Integrated Dao Domain are closely connected.
"I see. Your Integrated Dao Domain..."
"Did you figure it out?"
"...It's unbelievably vulgar."
Realizing how he has quickly swept away the surrounding treasures without me noticing, I let out a dry laugh.
The ability of his Integrated Dao Domain.
It isn't mere stealth, but rather, 'the ability to enhance thievery in proportion to his greed.'
"This is truly making my heart beat. I've never seen a place with so many treasures in my life! Hahaha! To think Yuk Rin, that son of a pig, had so many treasures stashed away! Technically, it's the legacy of Sea Dragon King Yuk Ung, but...hehe. So these are the treasures of the king of the Sea Dragon Race that is said to be capable of finding paths in the Deep Sea! Hahaha!"
Jin Ma-yeol's eyes glisten.
"Come at me, Devilish Cult Leader! Here, my greed is at its peak! Here, I am the strongest!"
He rushes at me, surrounded by dozens, even hundreds, of divine weapons just like Kim Young-hoon did before.
Kugwagwagwang!
His Reforming Calendar and my All-Heavens Sword clash.
I feel my entire body tremble at the overwhelming power of Reforming Calendar.
Though his realm is shallow, he compensates for it with the power of the treasured sword and his early Integration stage cultivation.
Moreover, to make matters worse, the surroundings begin to shake.
'This is...!'
Kugugugugu!
The mountain of treasures starts to tremble.
At the same time, light bursts from the Salt Crystal Palace at the mountain's peak.
Paaaatt!
It seems as though an ethereal force is enveloping the area.
Simultaneously, our eyes shrink tightly.
'Has the Qi thinned? No...this is...!'
An illusion!
The Salt Crystal Palace begins to exude a faint illusion, synchronizing the area into a world akin to Penglai Kingdom, where spells and methods cannot be used.
Of course, the power is so faint it's pitiful compared to when it was atop Salt Mountain.
Nevertheless, the power of both Jin Ma-yeol and myself diminish rapidly, and since I am only a Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion avatar with limited energy, my body becomes semi-transparent, on the verge of disappearing.
'This is insane!'
Cursing internally, I retreat.
Suddenly, the mountain of treasures ripples once more, and a massive dragon emerges from within.
'Shed skin!?'
It appears to be the discarded husks of Yuk Rin.
With Yuk Rin's faint consciousness seemingly embedded within it, the husk wails as it spots us intruding on the mountain of treasures and twists its body violently, attempting to swallow us whole.
The husk's own power doesn't seem to even reach the Core Formation stage, yet unreasonably, it seems unaffected by the illusion, using its energy freely.
Sploosh!
As the husk squirms, the treasure mountain ripples wildly like seawater.
"Good, this is getting more and more fun!"
Kaaang—
My All-Heavens Sword collides with his Reforming Calendar.
With my energy already weakened by the palace's illusion, I am almost annihilated entirely from the impact.
Kugugugu!
'This...useless illusion formation.'
Though my energy is reduced to the verge of extinction, Jin Ma-yeol's energy, being of the Integration stage, is at the Qi Building level.
We dodge the attacks of Yuk Rin's husk, clashing our swords against each other.
Kaang, kang!
Lacking the energy to freely transform the All-Heavens Sword, I keep it in the shape of a sword as I engage him.
Feigning a horizontal slash, I immediately follow by sweeping his leg to disrupt his lower body and stab his eyes seven times in quick succession.
Pukwak!
Though Jin Ma-yeol's head splits open, his body at the Qi Building level continues to recover endlessly as long as the head isn't severed, relentlessly pressing me.
Kugwagwagwang!
When he swings Reforming Calendar, a corner of the treasure mountain which is akin to a small hill collapses.
We are engulfed by a tidal wave of ancient stones, battling atop the undulating sea of ancient stones.
Spinning from a low stance as if dancing, I slash upwards towards him.
Jin Ma-yeol's chin splits open.
He steps forward, attempting a downward slash from the upper left to lower right.
I hook his foot and after breaking his balance, use Transcending Peaks to cut towards his side.
He almost falls but regains his balance, launching three consecutive strikes with Reforming Calendar.
The first is countered with Echoing Valley, also offsetting the second, while the third is deflected using Deep Mountain. I then close in and cut with Secluded Valley, following up with Bouldered Cliff and Strange Stone consecutively, grinding away at his chest.
"Kuuuurgh! Ah, ah! Good, good, good!"
With a flushed expression, he regenerates his body and holds Reforming Calendar in his right hand and an unknown divine spear in his left. In the air, he has a demon saber, a ghost bow, and countless weapons arranged like a cavalry and charges at me.
Kugugugu!
His attacks rain down on me like beams of light.
But they are shallow.
They aren't properly coordinated.
Unfolding Landscape Painting as if dancing, I deflect, redirect, and evade.
Splash!
The terrain changes once again due to the movement of Yuk Rin's shed skin.
I find myself above Jin Ma-yeol.
Bo-oong!
The slashes focus on one spot, biting into one of Jin Ma-yeol's weapons like a mountain tiger.
Kwang!
The sword energy intensifies, and weakened with us, Jin Ma-yeol's ghost bow shatters.
Spoosh—
The terrain changes again.
Jin Ma-yeol, a pirate accustomed to fighting at sea, is hardly affected by the changing terrain and immediately regains posture and strikes down at me.
I use Nine Mountains, Eight Seas, rotating ninety times on the spot, and adding the rotational force to launch eight slashes upward.
Jin Ma-yeol seems to stagger but regains his stance.
Splash—
The terrain shifts once more.
Our sword moves change as well.
Due to the constant transformation of the terrain caused by Yuk Rin's husk, I have to manipulate the surroundings using Mountain and Valley Transformation to create a terrain favorable to me.
Kang, kagang, kagagagak!
Despite everything, he is still at Treading Heavens.
He pressures me with attacks that are seamlessly integrated with martial arts.
In a fleeting moment, dozens, hundreds, thousands of exchanges occur.
Toong—
An ancient stone is launched into the air, and Jin Ma-yeol swings his divine spear at me in sync with it.
The stone shatters, scattering in all directions.
Some of those fragments rush toward me.
I scatter sword energy with Joy of Mountains and Peaks, deflecting all incoming stone fragments back towards Jin Ma-yeol's eyes.
Immediately switching moves, I use the now Six Thousand Lights Emerging Peak of the 12th move of Severing Mountain Swordsmanship, concentrating a massive amount of sword energy onto his spear.
Pasak!
His spear breaks.
Splash—
With three shifts in the terrain, we exchange an uncountable number of blows, and seventy-seven of Jin Ma-yeol's divine weapons are destroyed.
Each time I shatter one of his divine weapons, his expression twists like that of a ferocious evil spirit. It's a rather thrilling feeling, a reaction I hadn't seen when breaking Kim Young-hoon's weapon.
We exchange swords.
His demon saber grazes past my eyes, and I twist the trajectory of my sword, striking his demon saber upwards. I then strike his saber again with Dragon Vein, breaking it completely.
We exchanged moves.
His devil sword pricks my earlobe and he attempts to slice my neck with a change of technique, but the trajectory of the All-Heavens Sword bizarrely shifts, deflecting the attack. Then, using Layered Mountains, I create a thicket of sword energy to restrict his movements.
Seizing the gap when Jin Ma-yeol pauses momentarily, I use Mountain and Valley Transformation, concentrating it on his devil sword and reducing it to powder with vibrations.
We exchange intent.
Receiving his now bright red intent, I dodge his dual strike aimed simultaneously at my groin and face.
A strand of hair is sliced off.
Immediately, I thrust my sword into Jin Ma-yeol's mouth with Flowing Ridge, and with Mountain Echoes Valley Responds, I channel my sword cry (劍鳴) into his internal organs, causing his entire body to tremble.
As he spews blood from his seven orifices, I shred the mace in his left hand to pieces.
Kwgwang!
And once more, we exchange moves, shattering three more of his weapons.
How many times have I exchanged blows with him?
Now, all that remains in his possession is the first divine sword he held, the weapon called Reforming Calendar.
Jin Ma-yeol's eyes are half-rolled back as he grinds his teeth.
"You damn bastard...my children...!"
"When were they ever your children? They were Yuk Rin's."
"Shut up! I'll kill you!"
He rages furiously, gripping Reforming Calendar in his right hand and transforming his left into the grotesque sword, unleashing a flurry of sword moves.
"I'll show you the power of an immortal treasure!"
Paatt!
Once again, a terrifying snow-white sword light grazes past me.
Indeed, it's a fierce strike.
Despite having destroyed all of Yuk Rin's weapons, the reason I haven't managed to break Reforming Calendar in his hand is simple.
It's because the power of Reforming Calendar is far beyond expectations.
'This is troublesome.'
Toong, Toong—
I try provoking Reforming Calendar several times, but it's unyielding.
It's solid.
Booong—
He swings Reforming Calendar again.
Salt Crystal itself is the core of the Flying Immortal Formation and allows access to the Lower Realms.
In other words, it's a mineral that interferes with dimensions.
Because it interferes with dimensions, the Salt Bones Ship of the Fighting Demon Pirate Gang, which uses Salt Crystal as its keel, can dive and navigate freely in the Deep Sea.
And the power of Reforming Calendar, made from such Salt Crystal, has a Surpassing Radiant Saber-like ability to slice through space even though the energy is thin.
Chuak!
Sploosh—
Simultaneously as I dodge Reforming Calendar, Yuk Rin's husk moves, and the slash from Reforming Calendar directly strikes the waist of Yuk Rin's husk in an unfavorable position.
Slice—
Just like that, the waist of Yuk Rin's shed skin is cut through.
Yuk Rin's husk thrashes like mad, emitting light.
'I can't break that.'
I know instinctively.
A replica of an immortal treasure crafted by the Heavenly Craftsman.
No, to be precise, it's not even a replica, but a failed product. However, I can feel it.
This Reforming Calendar sword is one with an insane level of completion, a divine sword of the world.
Could one believe it if I said this single sword has a pressure equivalent to one of the Mad Lord's Integration stage puppets?
This single sword alone is on par with the Buk Hyang Fleet.
It's to the point where even someone like me, who has no greed for dharma treasures, feels my heart shake.
And such an insane artifact is being wielded by a Treading Heavens warrior.
If Kim Young-hoon were to wield it, I can't guarantee victory even with my main body. If Jang Ik were to wield it, there would be no one to stop him from conquering the Bright Cold Realm.
However,
"...How pitiful."
Instead of swinging my sword, I look coldly at Jin Ma-yeol, who is consumed by the potential of the Reforming Calendar Sword and wielded by the sword instead.
"Is this the Fighting Dance of your Fighting Ghost Race?"
The attacks of Jin Ma-yeol that initially took the form of the Fighting Ghost Race's Fighting Dance, are increasingly distorting as he swings Reforming Calendar, turning into a disorderly mess of garbage.
"Shut that mouth!!!"
"How foolish..."
I click my tongue and concentrate my mind.
Since the start of the battle, Jin Ma-yeol has not landed a single effective blow on me.
While there is the difference in our realms, it's laughable considering when I fought with Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion Kim Young-hoon on equal footing after just reaching Tribulation Heavens.
At that time, I pushed Kim Young-hoon back with sheer force.
But what about this guy?
He doesn't have something like the Three Great Ultimates.
Yet, despite still having a higher cultivation than I do, possessing an overwhelmingly superior weapon, and being older than me, he has been relentlessly toyed with, with his treasured possessions being shattered apart.
"Your greed has rotted your martial arts."
I mock his sword, deflecting the grotesque sword aiming for my side, then thrust my All-Heavens Sword towards the Reforming Calendar Sword that tries to pierce my eyes.
Pukwak!
The next moment, blood spatters.
My All-Heavens Sword accurately pierces Jin Ma-yeol's grip, halting his sword's advance.
Bo-oong—
Boom, boom, boom!
In the next moment, my All-Heavens Sword unleashes thousands of stabs in an instant, causing Jin Ma-yeol's grip to explode.
'Tsk.'
Yet, his body clings stubbornly to his sword.
'Even if it's rotten, he's still at Treading Heavens, huh?'
I make up my mind.
'Even if I take some losses, I'll have to use it.'
Swoosh—
Once again, the terrain shifts.
Unfortunately, the change results in him being slightly above me, and me slightly below him.
Without the opportunity to adjust the terrain using Mountain and Valley Transformation, he charges at me.
'It doesn't matter.'
I move my sword.
Tsuaaaa—
The All-Heavens Sword begins to cry.
Due to the Salt Crystal Palace, the energy is thin.
Both my body and the All-Heavens Sword are in a weakened state.
However, even in that situation, the All-Heavens Sword becomes distinct again.
The sword moves.
A faint mist follows in the wake of the sword's trajectory.
A martial technique I began creating upon coming to the Ancient Force Realm, integrating everything I have.
Severing Mountain Swordsmanship, the 31st Profound Move.
This, is my History.
Chapter 398: With The Wind (3)
Focusing my emotions, I imbue my sword with heart essence.
Within Dao Mountain Sword Forest,
There, only one sword is shining.
That sword is full of nicks and chipped edges.
Reflected on the blade is a novice swordsman clad in white.
Beyond the transparent blade, a crude Three Great Ultimates is visible.
This technique is still incomplete, and it was not used because it has the drawback of exploding midway when unleashed.
However, right now, I decide it is time to use this unnamed martial move.
This treasure hunt that involves hostages between us is already meaningless.
The thirty-first move of Severing Mountain Swordsmanship begins with the very first technique, Transcending Peaks.
Similar to the thirtieth move, Deep Mountain, Emerging Dao, there are three steps (式) at the start to transition between planes.
Starting with the horizontal slash Transcending Peaks, I move the sword from a lower plane to a higher plane.
Then, with a downward slash, I unfold Deep Mountain, Emerging Dao as the second step.
Immediately following with a thrust, I launch a Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion single strike at the Plane of Soul to complete the third step.
Thus, unifying all planes my sword reaches through these three steps marks the beginning of the thirty-first move.
The Immortal Cultivation of the Heaven Tribe is a method of rising to the Plane of Fate.
The Immortal Cultivation of the Earth Tribe is a method of rising in the Plane of Qi.
The realm of the Heart Tribe roams freely at the Plane of Soul.
I encapsulate the path of Immortal Cultivation I have traversed thus far in my Sword Path.
Through the first, second, and third steps, all moves of the Severing Mountain Swordsmanship are connected and interconnected.
The first step rises from a lower plane to a higher plane through the Heaven Tribe method, mimicking the stages of Qi Gathering, Qi Refining, Core Formation, Nascent Soul, Heavenly Being, and Four-Axis.
The second step strikes from a higher plane to a lower plane through the Earth Tribe method, causing explosions and imitating the realm of the Earth Tribe.
The third step was just martial arts up until now.
Following the first, second, and third steps of horizontal slashing, vertical slashing, and thrusting, I consecutively unfold the twenty-second move Severing Mountain three times in a row, pressing forward with 66 martial techniques.
And then, I activate the combination technique of the 66 moves again.
After unleashing the combination technique, within the first, second, and third steps, I fuse all my cultivation techniques, demon abilities, and puppet circuits.
This is the still incomplete thirty-first move of Severing Mountain Swordsmanship.
Chuaaaaaa—
Sword and swords connect infinitely, exhaling a hazy mist.
I engrave my history into my Sword Path, revealing the effect of the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections.
Each droplet of mist is a Gang Sphere that has reached the zenith.
Qi is being consumed enormously, causing my avatar to flicker as if it's about to vanish.
However, the mist begins to rotate in the form of the Three Great Ultimates.
Heaven and Earth spiritual energy is drawn in.
Jin Ma-yeol's eyes waver.
The Three Great Ultimates rotate.
The hazy mist swirls ferociously.
Kugugugugugu!
Just from the aftereffects, Yuk Rin's treasure mountain is split apart, and Yuk Rin's husk turns to dust and vanishes.
The finale of the thirty-first move is to unite the Three Great Ultimates into one and manifest a strike that would cleave Heaven and Earth, causing the phenomenon of Split Sky.
The Three Great Ultimates unite.
The hazy mist is dyed pure white.
The next moment.
Kwagwagwagwang!
As if alive, my technique twists and explodes.
Unable to control the explosive force, I am hurled backward along with it.
But at the last moment, I concentrate the explosive force on Jin Ma-yeol's right hand.
And,
Kwaching—
Finally, the Reforming Calendar Sword held in his hand is flung away.
Tssssss—
My avatar becomes faint as if it's about to vanish.
Did Yuk Rin's shed skin serve a role as the axis of the illusion formation?
As the husk turns to dust, the illusion formation trembles and collapses.
The scenery of the otherworld that overlapped with this space until moments ago disappears, and the thin Qi returns to its original state.
However, the clash just now is clearly a loss to me.
Had I focused the explosion more onto Jin Ma-yeol's body, I could have entirely grinded away his upper body, but seeing his gaze at the last moments, I deliberately took some of the explosive force onto myself.
Chiiiiiiiiiii—
Drawing in Heaven and Earth spiritual energy, he regenerates the wounds all over his body.
In contrast, my body is fading, unable to withstand the aftermath of the explosive force.
Though I would slowly recover as the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy is returning, at this rate, I will lose to Jin Ma-yeol.
Yet, instead of seizing this excellent opportunity to attack, Jin Ma-yeol bites his lip and stares at me.
"...What was that just now?"
"I haven't decided on a name yet."
"I'm not asking about the name...! How, how did you combine cultivation realm and Fighting Dance...!?"
His eyes are trembling violently as if shaking like an aspen tree.
"How did you do it? Tell me!"
Kugugugugu!
As he roars, I can feel the entire Deep Sea Island shaking beyond Yuk Rin's treasure vault.
I look at Jin Ma-yeol and smile.
"You can do it too."
"What kind of nonsense..."
"What is that in your hand?"
"What?"
"What have you been wielding all this time?"
At my shout, Jin Ma-yeol is dumbfounded and then shivers.
I ask as I raise my energy-drained body.
"What is the name of what you are unfolding?"
"...Second Stage Fighting Steps of Fighting Dance..."
"I asked what is the name of what you are unfolding!!!!!"
Clearly, Jin Ma-yeol has the advantage in energy.
He also has the advantage in stamina.
If he and I were to clash now, he would easily eliminate my avatar and seize all the treasures here.
However, Jin Ma-yeol avoids my gaze and lowers his eyes instead as if wanting to hide in a mouse hole at my shout.
"...I don't know."
"Raise your sword."
He briefly glances at the Reforming Calendar Sword that had been flung from his hand, clenches his lips, and transforms his hand into the grotesque sword.
"I will ask again. What is it you hold in your hand?"
"..."
He lowers his head.
The intent of shame reveals itself within his heart.
The Fighting Ghost Race becomes aroused through combat.
Thus, they elevate their realm and grow faster than anyone else through combat, becoming the most excellent warriors compared to any other race.
They clash with other races, emulating their physiques, and indulge endlessly in ecstasy and frenzy, fighting until they die.
That is the Fighting Ghost (鬪鬼).
Jin Ma-yeol, born as a Fighting Ghost Race, has lived that way until now.
Through the traditional ritual of the Fighting Ghost Race known as Fighting Dance, he entered the First Stage of Fighting Steps. A few hundred years ago, he fought with someone from the Conqueror King's forces called the 'Surpassing Radiant Divine Demon' who appeared in the Ancient Force Realm, gaining inspiration to enter the Second Stage of Fighting Steps.
Reaching the Second Stage of Fighting Steps, something only those with extraordinary talent among the royal family of the Fighting Ghost Race might achieve, Jin Ma-yeol's confidence soared to its peak.
Now, he is superior to any other of the Fighting Ghost Race!
If he only lives long enough, he is confident he can surpass the Third Stage of Fighting Steps and reach the Fourth Stage of Fighting Steps, which is said to have been reached by the creator of the Fighting Dance.
He felt like the world was in his grasp.
He already seemed to see the ultimate limits of Fighting Dance flickering before his eyes.
His life has never stopped once.
Although minor obstacles have blocked his path, he believed he could overcome them as he always had.
But.
"...I don't know."
Jin Ma-yeol lowers his eyes before a human swordsman he has always looked down upon.
His entire body is trembling.
The beautiful sword dance he has just witnessed still flickers before his eyes.
It's often said that when one's realm is too low, they cannot recognize the moves of those at a higher realm.
However, Jin Ma-yeol's realm is at the Second Stage of Fighting Steps.
Regardless of anything, he possesses a sufficient level of insight, and since he isn't at too low a realm, Jin Ma-yeol can comprehend some of the enlightenment imbued in that sword dance.
It's immature.
There seem to be many areas that need improvement, and it's evident that the man before him can't control his Sword Path.
The fact that the sword techniques exploded due to lack of control over the Sword Path is laughable, something even a passing carp would find amusing.
Yet, Jin Ma-yeol can't laugh.
Because the moment he saw that sword, he realized that the Fighting Dance he has learned is even more worthless.
The swordsmanship that began with three movements was elegant.
It was the murmuring of countless crowds,
A miserable attempt to integrate Heaven, Earth, and Heart.
At the same time, it was the immaturity of a novice swordsman and a trash-like waste.
However, the murmuring within the sword constantly discussed the direction the sword should advance.
The misery continually pushed the sword to develop.
The immaturity, through comprehension, refined the trash-like Sword Path.
A sword containing infinite possibilities.
That was the sword displayed by the man before his eyes.
And when that man, who showcased that beautiful potential, asked a question Jin Ma-yeol had never contemplated before,
Jin Ma-yeol felt an indescribable shame.
It's humiliating.
Just why is it, exactly?
The Fighting Ghost Race only learns the Fighting Dance, but they don't bother assigning names to it.
To them, the Fighting Dance is merely one of the many ways to enjoy copulation.
Everyone thinks so, and thus Jin Ma-yeol never considered naming the Fighting Dance as well.
Because it's common sense.
But now, what stands before his eyes is a sword reaching a realm that can never be touched by mere common sense.
To speak of common sense in front of that sword is an act that would make Jin Ma-yeol himself trash.
'Am I trash...?'
The Grand Cultivator of the Fighting Ghost Race, Jin Ma-yeol, who has always been overflowing with confidence, falls into despair for the first time in his life and trembles all over.
In front of that sword, he seems so small.
He wants to cry.
Holding a sword has always been joyous, but not this time.
He wants to hide somewhere, anywhere.
But he can't hide.
"I will ask again. What is it you hold in your hand?"
That person is asking!
He must answer that question.
Because he knows that if he doesn't, he will remain trash forever.
An instant as long as eternity passes.
Jin Ma-yeol hesitates, choosing and re-choosing his words.
And finally, feeling as though he will vomit inside his shameful emotions, he speaks the 'name' of what is in his hand.
"...Lust (欲情)."
Yes.
What he has been wielding, or rather,
What 99.9% of the Fighting Ghost Race wield is that.
"No...instinct (本能). Yes, this is instinct."
To Jin Ma-yeol's answer, the man before him nods.
"Yes, that's correct."
"..."
Although he expected it, hearing a direct confirmation makes Jin Ma-yeol feel a wave of nausea.
It feels as if the Fighting Dance he has practiced, the entire history of the Fighting Ghost Race, is being utterly denied.
He has always believed their Fighting Dance to be superior.
But it is not.
Their Fighting Dance is merely an extension of the Fighting Ghost Race's instincts.
He looks at his sword with a dazed expression and asks.
"...If so, is Fighting Dance wrong?"
And that person replies.
"It might be."
"Then...!"
"Or it might not be."
At his words, Jin Ma-yeol's pupils constrict.
"If you know what you've been wielding all this time, then think about how you will wield it from now on."
"...!"
Is it because he is in a higher realm and can clearly read Jin Ma-yeol's heart essence?
Or is it simply because his sword is so lacking that it's obvious how he should be advised.
Jin Ma-yeol grits his teeth at his advice.
And he raises his grotesque sword.
"...I will swing it once."
The man nods.
The next moment, the two martial artists clash.
Jin Ma-yeol, with the energy of the Integration stage, and the Heart Tribe, at the level of the Fourth Stage of Fighting Steps, collide.
But there is no explosion.
There is no shockwave.
Only Jin Ma-yeol's grotesque sword is cleanly cut.
No, it isn't just his sword that is cut.
His upper body and domain are entirely sliced away.
Until just a moment ago, when he fought with the Reforming Calendar Sword, they seemed to match quite evenly.
Their levels seemed similar.
At least, that's what Jin Ma-yeol thought.
Thud!
Jin Ma-yeol collapses, defeated in a single strike, slumping down on the mountain of ancient stone
It's a bitter defeat.
However, a peaceful smile, one he has never worn even when 'mating,' is now on his face.
"...Thank you."
He has lost.
The Salt Crystal Palace he originally aimed for, the treasures of Yuk Rin's treasure vault, and the once-in-a-lifetime divine sword, the Reforming Calendar Sword, will all fall into Seo Eun-hyun's hands.
But it doesn't matter.
The next realm is in sight.
The Third Stage of Fighting Steps, which no one in the Fighting Ghost Race has reached for tens of thousands of years, seems fleetingly within his grasp.
He is satisfied with that.
'The next...realm...is before my eyes...'
His vision blurs.
His consciousness scatters.
His body grows cold.
It's a little different from the conclusion Jin Ma-yeol had envisioned, but he smiles.
Having exhausted all his resurrections and failed to fully obtain Purple Soul Filling the Heavens, the Unaging and Undying he aimed for is out of reach, but it doesn't matter.
The Soul (魂) of Fighting Dance.
Because he discovered the joy of what Seo Eun-hyun calls Martial Arts.
Thus, the Grand Cultivator of the Fighting Ghost Race and captain of the Fighting Demon Pirate Gang,
Jin Ma-yeol died.
He was an unpleasant guy from the first meeting.
Originally, when I unleashed the thirty-first move, I intended to completely crush him with explosive force.
But at the last moment, his eyes changed from those of a beast to those of a martial artist.
As a fellow martial artist, I decided to take on his strength and give him a chance.
And although Jin Ma-yeol charged like a beast, he died as a martial artist.
After looking at Jin Ma-yeol's corpse for a moment, I swing the All-Heavens Sword.
Kugugugugu!
The mountain of ancient stone and treasures above him collapses.
Buried under golden treasures, the martial artist Jin Ma-yeol completely disappeared from the world.