Chapter 367

In the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams Formation.

Next to the World Tree, at the lakeside where Kang Sang was fishing, he turned his head towards Seong Jihan's direction.

"A guest has arrived…"

Swoosh.

An old man, carrying a bamboo fishing rod on his shoulder, slowly walked towards Seong Jihan.

He then slowly opened his mouth.

"Who might you be?"

"Don't you remember?"

"Remember? We're meeting for the first time."

Kang Sang blinked, looking at Seong Jihan as if he saw something strange.

It seemed he had no recollection of the prolonged battle they had in the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams Formation.

'It seems like a reset happens when re-entry occurs.'

That's fortunate.

Seeing Kang Sang only observing him without entering into battle immediately, Seong Jihan absorbed life energy from the World Tree.

[Your 'Eternity' stat increases by 1.]

The Eternity stat grows rapidly just by being near the World Tree.

As Seong Jihan absorbed the life energy, Kang Sang narrowed his eyes.

"To absorb the life energy from that monstrous tree… You must be related to that abomination…"

"Monstrous tree? Are you referring to that tree?"

Before engaging in battle and hoping to absorb enough life energy, Seong Jihan, pretending not to know, initiated a conversation.

However, Kang Sang immediately saw through his intent.

"Trying to buy time, I see."

Whirr!

The fishing line wrapped around the bamboo rod, which then transformed into a bamboo staff in Kang Sang's hand, becoming a weapon.

'I needed to absorb more life energy, what a shame.'

Swoosh…

Facing Kang Sang who seemed ready to charge, Seong Jihan summoned Eclipse in his left hand.

"Ho… Alright, let's see what you've got!"

Whoosh!

The staff, stretched out in a straight line towards him.

To Seong Jihan, this attack was familiar.

'He always started with this move.'

Kang Sang's initial attack seen countless times during simulations in the Void Training Room.

Seong Jihan easily dodged it and went straight into a counterattack.

The sword and staff crossed paths.

Boom!

A violent explosion rocked the world as their weapons met.

This initiated a series of clashes between the sword and staff.

"Hmm, you're strong…!"

Click.

In the fierce confrontation, it was Kang Sang who first took a step back.

Seong Jihan, who was superior in strength from the start, had grown accustomed to Kang Sang's attacks through endless simulations in the Void Training Room.

It was only natural for him to have the upper hand.

Still,

'Compared to the simulation, Kang Sang has definitely shown noticeable growth.'

Compared to the simulation of Kang Sang in the training room.

The current opponent was indeed showing remarkable growth.

"This is interesting…"

An elder burning with fighting spirit, looking at the stronger opponent, Seong Jihan, with sparkling eyes.

The Crimson Divinity that Kang Sang was practicing had grown at an unbelievable pace since their first encounter.

'In the Void Training Room, when strength was set equally, it was fifty-fifty, but here, that would lead to defeat.'

Seong Jihan thought about testing his strength against Kang Sang, but,

'…No. First, I need to remove the Constellation's command from Gilgamesh.'

He decided to set aside his desire for competition and focused on the priorities at hand.

If he was expelled again, he wouldn't be able to re-enter for another two weeks.

Given the situation, it wasn't practical to engage leisurely in battle with Kang Sang.

[Your 'Eternity' stat increases by 1.]

Meanwhile, despite the ongoing battle, the Eternity stat continued to grow robustly.

[You have gained 5 Eternity from the 'Sealed Fragment of the World Tree-1'.]

[You cannot gain more Eternity from this location.]

Whether the previous gain of +3 was counted or not, after gaining 5 Eternity from the sealed World Tree, a message appeared indicating no further increase in Eternity was possible.

Though the life energy from the World Tree continued to be absorbed, the Eternity within Seong Jihan no longer grew.

'It won't let me freely harvest its benefits.'

Seong Jihan clicked his tongue in frustration.

It seemed unlikely he would be able to complete the latter part of the domination code.

'Considering the name, 'Sealed Fragment of the World Tree-1', there must be 2 and 3. Perhaps in those, I can gain more Eternity.'

And to access fragments 2 or 3, he must first defeat the opponent in front of him.

'Let's finish this.'

Seong Jihan unleashed his power to subdue Kang Sang.

Crack…!

As Eclipse collided with the staff, it began to crack.

"Hmm…!"

Seeing this, Kang Sang's expression grew serious.

The opponent before him, was too strong of an adversary to overcome.

"With my current limitations, I'm no match for you. Normally, I'd gladly risk my life to learn from such a strong opponent as yourself…"

Kang Sang gazed at the World Tree.

"If the giant awakens, it would be a disaster for humanity… I have a duty to protect the seal."

With those words, the bamboo staff he held began to soften and transformed into a whip.

Just like the last time Seong Jihan was expelled from the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams using the sealing formation.

It was once again manifesting, moving through the air like a snake.

Whirl!

Thus, the technique that could shatter worlds and forcibly expel opponents was unleashed.

'What appears is but a distraction…'

Plunk!

The shadow sword Eclipse sliced through not the dazzling movements of the whip but the air itself.

And with that, the movements of the sealing formation faltered significantly.

'It was the flow of energy slicing through the atmosphere that's real.'

In the Void Training Room, Seong Jihan could never fully counter the sealing formation. When Kang Sang employed it, it seemed challenging to deal with.

However, once faced with it again, Seong Jihan immediately deciphered the hidden movements of the sealing formation.

This was possible because,

"Sealing formation… It's related to the Taiji Swordsmanship."

The experiences with the Myriad Ghost Sealing Gods and acquiring the Taiji Swordsmanship played a significant role.

The sealing formation that Kang Sang used contained some complex essence of the Taiji Swordsmanship.

Though Seong Jihan had only mimicked using the Taiji Swordsmanship as a skill once, that experience enabled him to understand the movements of the sealing formation.

And when Seong Jihan mentioned the Taiji Swordsmanship,

"Taiji Swordsmanship…? How do you know of it?"

Kang Sang's eyes widened in surprise.

"To obliterate souls, it was a thought I had entertained…"

'Obliterate souls.'

Was he aiming to eliminate the soul of the giant?

Kang Sang had been contemplating the Taiji Swordsmanship since his days.

"I have some knowledge."

Seong Jihan responded and mobilized Eclipse.

A momentary flicker of shadow, and then,

Fundamental Divine Art,

Triad of Martial Mastery:

Total Annihilation Horizontal Sweep

The world seemed to split in two.

Total Annihilation Horizontal Sweep.

A simple technique that cuts across, but to Kang Sang, who had his sealing formation obstructed, there was no power left to counter.

Plunk!

The white beard was cut in half and fell to the ground.

Swoosh.

Kang Sang then looked down.

"All the effort I put into grooming it… cut down so undignified."

"My apologies."

Drip. Drip.

Beyond the severed beard,

a deep cut across his chest bled profusely.

Along with that, the bamboo staff reverted to its original form.

The formidable aura of Kang Sang now faded.

And then,

"Do not proceed any further. The existence of Neijin must never be exposed to the world…"

[PR/N: Neijin/ Neigong are the same, it's qi or life force.]

With those final words, Kang Sang's upper body slumped.

Thud….

He fell to the ground.

And above him, a system message emerged.

[The external formation of Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams has collapsed, releasing the Nine Palaces, Eight Trigrams.]

['The Sealed Fragment of the World Tree-1' will be released outside the seal.]

'It's coming out?'

Seong Jihan frowned at the message.

* * *

The Sealed World Tree.

It played a continuous role in resurrecting Kang Sang's "giant," referred to as the target and blood clan.

The persistent soul of the giant within the Symbol of Taiji remained even in fragments.

Their will to survive was incredibly strong and formidable.

'If the other fragments of the World Tree are released, will they resurrect too?'

That would bring disaster to a peaceful world.

Coming to raise the Eternity stat but ending up with a bigger issue seems to be the case.

[Would you like to enter Neijin?]

Zzz…

A pattern materialized next to the World Tree, somewhat resembling the formation of Myriad Ghost Sealing Gods at first glance.

Entering through it would presumably lead to Neijin.

However,

"Wait."

Seong Jihan looked at the World Tree, which was exuding more life energy, seemingly aware of its imminent release, stronger than before.

Before entering Neijin, dealing with it seemed necessary.

'Should I use the destruction code?'

Seong Jihan first attempted to write the destruction code on the tree.

Swoosh…

Instantly, the World Tree was erased from the world.

Indeed, the Destruction code was unstoppable, even against the World Tree.

But,

"It's futile…"

Just as Kang Sang finished speaking from behind him.

Swoosh…

From where the World Tree stood, a faint smoke rose,

and the tree began to regenerate.

"Why do you think I haven't tried destroying it? No matter how many times it was torn down, that monstrosity would always regenerate…"

"You're still alive?"

"Yes. That tree exuded so much life energy that it kept me barely alive for a while. Once the sealing formation is completely destroyed, I too will vanish."

"The sealing formation…"

Seong Jihan glanced around.

The lush green world by the lakeside.

From the edge of the world, it began to transform into a view from beneath the sea.

'Is the sealing formation going to completely collapse once the sea water from the edge enters here…?'

The world was rapidly disintegrating.

Before the world fully changed, there seemed to be an urgency to deal with the tree.

"If the soul cannot be obliterated, that monstrosity cannot be removed…"

"Obliteration of souls… Can it be done?"

"It's possible, perhaps…"

"Then, it must be attempted."

The power of obliteration.

That was what Kang Sang had mentioned just moments ago.

'Taiji Swordsmanship,' he said, considering it.

Seong Jihan used a skill.

"Taiji Swordsmanship."

Swoosh…

Upon calling out the skill name, a Taiji symbol emerged behind Seong Jihan.

It continued to expand endlessly.

And then,

"No, is this supposed to be the Taiji Swordsmanship…?"

"Indeed, it is."

"Hmm… No, this isn't right…"

Observing the endlessly expanding Taiji, Kang Sang, bisected and lying on the ground, began to provide guidance.

"When will you stop expanding the Taiji? Can't you control your own power?"

"The essence of the Taiji Swordsmanship is in the Swordsmanship itself. Currently, you only display the flow of yin and yang."

"Hmm… This is strange. Very strange. You're completely unable to control the power. How did you unleash it?"

How did he unleash it?

He used a skill.

Seong Jihan slightly frowned at Kang Sang's nitpicking on the Taiji phase from behind, but,

"Try this instead…"

As Kang Sang began to instruct, Seong Jihan's expression turned serious.

'To receive guidance on using the Taiji Swordsmanship from its creator.'

Coming to increase the Eternity stat but ending up with such an unexpected gain.

"I understand. I'll follow your guidance."

Seong Jihan respectfully responded and began to manipulate the Taiji Swordsmanship according to Kang Sang's directions.

* * *

Meanwhile,

At the Star of the Martial Gods, in Tuseong,

"Hmm…!"

Dongbang Sak, who was monitoring Gilgamesh, suddenly choked.

"What's the matter?"

"…"

Despite Gilgamesh's question, Dongbang Sak, looking into the void and stroking his beard,

Swoosh…

silently muttered,

"It's nothing."

Saying so, Dongbang Sak unconsciously stroked the middle of his beard.

"…Nothing, indeed."