Chapter 304

Chapter 304

Just a few minutes ago.

“We have to stop a Transcender here…”

“…”

“Are you sane?”

“I am sane.”

At the sight of Baek Riseon, who had come to the fleeing Seohwa’s group and laid out his words, Sobaek turned pale and shook his head. It was words that didn’t make sense logically.

“Fist Spirit became a Transcender. Well, I can understand that much. I don’t know much about you, but they say you possess mysterious abilities…”

“Yes.”

“But that and this are separate issues. Even with my head that just woke up not long ago, engaging in a frontal fight with a Transcender is suicidal.”

“Why do you think so?”

“Because Transcenders are monsters.”

The concept of transcendence.

It wasn’t an unfamiliar concept. Though it wasn’t a concept widely known enough for everyone to know, at least Sobaek, the sect leader of the Nine Sects and One Gang, roughly understood what that concept was. Right away, didn’t his ancestor, the Spear Window Sword Immortal, also desire transcendence so much?

“Those who achieved transcendence escape the tracks of the mortal world and rise to the rank of the absolute.”

“…”

“Of course, it’s said that level differs vastly between Transcenders like heaven and earth, but basically, if someone who reached Sipcheon achieves transcendence, it’s a self-evident fact they’ll become stronger. Yet a frontal confrontation? That’s absurd.”

What if Fist Spirit hadn’t achieved transcendence? If she was just as she was before, merely Sipcheon?

Even then, he probably wouldn’t have tried a frontal confrontation. Having the Spear Window Sword Immortal, who was formerly Sipcheon, nearby showed him things. Sipcheon were possessors of martial prowess on a different level from martial artists of lower ranks.

Perhaps ten years later it would be different, but in the current situation, even if she retained her past martial prowess, they would ultimately be the ones defeated. But if Fist Spirit, who had even achieved transcendence on top of that, was chasing them?

“There’s no way to win. We’ll be unilaterally massacred.”

“That’s right.”

“Knowing that, what’s your reason for saying we must stop her?”

“Because this side has the greatest possibility.”

“…Possibility?”

“Yes.”

Baek Riseon, with a slight smile, turned his gaze backward.

“How long would it take to reach Daeri in a straight line from here?”

“…Well, if we move quickly, about one shichen…”

“Is that possible? While carrying a young child?”

“…”

“It would be impossible. Regardless of whether the Sect Leader can do it or not, the child won’t be able to endure.”

Traversing a distance of two hundred fifty li in one shichen.

It’s a figure possible only when a master above a certain level deploys lightness skill with full power. Though not physically impossible, it’s realistically impossible. But what about Fist Spirit?

“I’ll guarantee it, but Fist Spirit can reach Daeri from here within half a shichen.”

“…That’s possible, you say?”

“Because she’s a Transcender.”

Why is a Transcender a Transcender?

Though they began calling them Transcenders because they cast aside the common sense and frameworks they possessed, others don’t call them Transcenders for that reason. Most call them Transcenders because they show strength that doesn’t even seem human.

Especially Fist Spirit was a Transcender who rose to the rank of the absolute with two arms and two legs. Considering that fist fighters traditionally place more weight on footwork than sword fighters, such speed would certainly come out without objection.

“In any case, it seems we’ll be caught even if we flee. Then it means we should at least prepare while resisting in battle.”

“I understand what you’re saying, but… is it possible?”

“It’s difficult.”

“…?”

“Isn’t it ultimately a matter of possibility?”

Baek Riseon, with a faint smile, looked around and covered his mouth with his folding fan.

“I can’t waste any more strength, and Fist Spirit’s power is on the level of a natural disaster. Ultimately, it means we must bring in everyone here and external helpers to avoid the situation…”

“…”

“Those here are woefully insufficient. It would be impossible even to grab her ankles.”

“Then what should we do?”

“Isn’t it simple? If the opponent is a natural disaster, we should bring a natural disaster on this side too.”

The opponent was someone who, along with Taeak, could claim to be number one in the martial world in fist and leg techniques.

“When fist and leg techniques reach their peak, they’re extremely strong in combat against people, but generally the range they can strike is short.”

“…”

“Then there’s one thing we can do.”

Buying time.

“Let’s collapse the gorge.”

Baek Riseon smiled and said so.

…

……

………

***

Leading to now.

Kwaaaaaaa—!!!

“Where on earth did you get thunderbolt bombs…?”

“He said he found some buried in Xinjiang and stole a bit!”

“Xinjiang…?”

Why would thunderbolt bombs be buried there?

“Fall back for now!”

Even at Baek Riseon’s inexplicable eccentricity, Sobaek shook his head vigorously to shake off idle thoughts and drew his sword while pulling back Seohwa and Wangpal, who were in combat stance with tense expressions. Momentum tinglingly encroaching on his entire body.

‘That monster won’t die from this much.’

Ten-thousand-year boulders collapsed and rocks weighing hundreds of thousands or perhaps millions of geun became shells falling downward. Dust exploding and roaring sounds tearing through the air.

However, he knew. If it were a ‘human,’ they wouldn’t even find a way to survive in there, but Fist Spirit wouldn’t die in there.

Because that’s what a Transcender is.

—Bothersome.

Kwang!

The falling rock turned to powder.

Kwang! Kwang! Kwangkwangkwangkwangkwang!!!

If Buddhism’s Acala actually existed, would it feel like this?

Without moving a single step, Hayul, who had shattered all the descending rocks with her fists and feet, extended her hand while emitting demonic energy from her eyes and clenched her fingers. A grip tightening fiercely with a crack sound.

Space twisted.

Ppajik! Ppajijijik!

From Hayul’s extended grip, sounds of something tearing continuously echoed and flicked at eardrums. Hayul simply clenching her fist as if muscle fibers were being torn.

Ururururu!

When she stopped destroying, the earth and rocks that had been pouring down in unison revealed their fangs toward Hayul as if they had been waiting for this moment. Like an avalanche occurring in a mountain range with accumulated eternal snow, like a tsunami, a wave of earth rushing in.

Standing before it, Hayul quietly clenched one hand and attached her fist to her waist.

Destructive Body Dance

Heaven Collapse Earth Destruction

The gorge.

──!!!

Was newly created.

“…Huh.”

A gorge pierced in a straight line, round and enormous.

At the wave of earth that had gone somewhere without even a trace visible, Sobaek burst into hollow laughter and unknowingly loosened the strength in his grip before consciously re-gripping his sword. Hands trembling uncharacteristically for a Spear Window sword wielder who took swiftness and precision as virtues.

‘I’m supposed to face something like that?’

After unleashing a great strike, there would be exhaustion. He must aim for that moment.

He knew that much. He also knew that no matter how much of a Transcender she was, she couldn’t pour out such things repeatedly in succession. That if there was an opportunity, it was only now.

However.

‘After seeing something like that, charge at her…?’

Isn’t there a degree even to differences in level?

At the sight of Sobaek frozen, unable to extend his sword, Hayul, who had been waiting for the dust to settle, raised her internal power to blow away the dust and smirked.

“Was it Sobaek? Mm.”

“…”

“The strategy was good, but you can’t lose your fighting spirit. Is this what a sect leader does?”

One step.

The moment she stepped, momentum became a storm and swept around. Momentum that made one involuntarily step back despite clearly containing no internal power.

“I’ll concede three seconds.”

“Three… seconds.”

“I won’t use both hands. I won’t counterattack either. You need an opportunity too.”

“…”

“This much is a generous treatment, isn’t it?”

Looking at Hayul clasping her hands behind her back along with her words, Sobaek steadied his breathing. It was true it was a generous treatment.

‘I am Spear Window’s sect leader.’

What is a sect’s sect leader? What kind of existence?

That is a face. The soul, the representative, and simultaneously the vanguard and center. One could say a pioneer who shows the path forward.

‘I may break, but that’s fine. But Spear Window’s sword must not break.’

Defeated? Skill doesn’t reach?

What of it?

To acknowledge defeat without even extending one’s sword once is a sword wielder’s shame. Do Spear Window’s sword wielders swing their swords to pierce the sun because they’re idiots, fools?

‘No.’

Pointing the sword even at something one cannot resist, thus resolving to necessarily carry out one’s will, and endlessly striving forward.

That is Spear Window’s soul. The spirit of never giving up is the attitude a Spear Window sect leader must show.

Jeobbeok!

“Come at me.”

At the sight of Hayul provoking by wiggling her toes instead of her hands as if to keep her word of not using her hands from now on, Sobaek took a deep breath and gripped his sword. Simultaneously, a sword form extending tautly like a drawn bowstring.

Sun-Shooting Sword

Houyi Draws the Bow

Have you ever seen the sight of a trained archery unit drawing bowstrings?

Archers gather the strength of their entire body to shoot one arrow. What they draw is the bowstring, but to draw the bowstring of a great bow once, archers draw the muscles of their entire body. Like a bowstring.

Things drawn taut have the nature of wanting to return.

An arrow leaving the bowstring secures as much force as it was drawn. It flies carrying all the force up to that point in a single point just to strike down the opponent.

Like the current scene.

Ttadadadadadadang—!!!!!

“Oh.”

Deflecting, striking up, pushing away, stepping on, and dodging.

Hayul, who let out a small exclamation, floated her body in midair and roamed the air while flashing both feet dazzlingly. Showing free movement in midair as if reminiscent of Wudang’s Cloud-Riding Steps or Kunlun’s Cloud Dragon Eight Forms.

A sound like thick rain tapping on spears echoed.

Taaaang—!!!

Having kicked away the sword strikes extended without remainder, Hayul wore a satisfied smile and stepped down to descend to the ground. And.

“That was a good technique. Though the finish is a bit regrettable…?”

The moment the foot that descended first touched the ground with its tip.

Hayul’s eyes captured Sobaek’s arm.

Chijijijijik—!!!!

An arm drawn endlessly.

Sun-Shooting Sword

Fastest, shortest distance.

Though given three seconds’ grace, he didn’t think of using all three seconds. Because going to three seconds would obviously mean losing. If he staked the match up to there, the opponent would become even more solid, and his sword tip wouldn’t pierce the opponent’s neck.

Just pursuing swiftness. No need for strength to penetrate softness, softness to grasp strength, a hegemon sword to fiercely press down the opponent, or an illusory sword to bewitch the eyes.

What’s desired is one thing.

Simply in a straight line, faster than anyone. So no one’s consciousness can pursue it.

Becoming an arrow of light.

Houyi Shoots the Sun

The divine being Houyi of the ancient Yao-Shun era is said to have shot down the sun with a bow. To shoot down that sun whose form wasn’t even properly established, arrows of wood or iron would be far from sufficient.

There is no material that can drive away light.

Therefore, the arrow Houyi shot was itself light. Because only light can shoot down light.

A moment of silence.

With Sobaek frozen while extending his hand in a straight line, everyone watched the battle situation without daring to make a sound. Beyond the sword tip at the end of the extended hand, stretched in a straight line as if having become one arrow.

The sight of touching fingers.

“I’m sorry.”

Paseuseuseu!

Hayul, who crushed the straight sword that had been touching her neck in a straight line, twisted her fingers. And.

“You weren’t an opponent to go easy on.”

The beam of light was slammed into the ground.