Chapter 97 : Encounter (4)

Chapter 97: Encounter (4)

Jang Woo-hyun lay on the ground, aligning his broken bones. His body, which had already transcended human limits, emitted crunching sounds as it rapidly healed.

“What is that?”

Could what he just witnessed even be called a martial art?

Cheol Geuk-jin had transformed into a massive giant of light formed from Qi Projection. It wasn't just a case of enveloping his body in energy; it was as if he had become an entirely different species.

“How was it? Was it useful?”

It was far beyond just being useful—it was difficult to handle.

Jang Woo-hyun, who had mostly fought enemies of human size until now, struggled to face the suddenly enlarged Cheol Geuk-jin.

He had fought gigantic monsters like the Iron Armor Monkey in the Central Plains before, but the scale was different. The Iron Armor Monkey had been about one jang tall, whereas Cheol Geuk-jin earlier had exceeded five jang.

Due to the overwhelming physical strength and destructive power of Cheol Geuk-jin in his giant form, Jang Woo-hyun couldn't even fight properly and had simply been beaten one-sidedly.

“It’s not just useful—it was astonishing.”

“Astonishing? You don’t look it.”

Jang Woo-hyun’s expression resembled that of a child who had found something amusing rather than someone who had been surprised.

Just as people looked and thought differently, martial arts were no different. Even when mastering the same martial art, it could vary slightly depending on one’s nature, habits, and physique—and sometimes it even diverged entirely. Though they both started with the Heaven-Dominating Divine Armor, the martial arts completed by Jang Woo-hyun and Cheol Geuk-jin were different.

“Why did you end up in that state?”

The form Cheol Geuk-jin had just shown was far too grotesque. While it demonstrated overwhelming destructive power, it also felt somewhat unnecessary.

If that power had instead been condensed, it might have resulted in a better martial art. That’s why Jang Woo-hyun thought there must have been a particular reason. After all, the Cheol Geuk-jin he knew was an exceptional martial artist.

“To deal with the giants from the Great Man Nation. There’s a forest called the Giant Tree Grove, where the giant race resides. Fighting them is what led to this. They’re enormous, you see.”

“Ah…”

As expected, Cheol Geuk-jin’s martial art had been modified out of necessity.

And Jang Woo-hyun realized something else.

This wasn’t the Central Plains—it was the Central Heavens Realm.

This place housed monsters and other races beyond humanity. Therefore, one might have to employ unconventional martial arts or methods to deal with them.

“They’re quite similar to us.”

“Similar to giants?”

“Ah, I explained that too briefly. I meant that they’re similar to us who use the Heaven-Dominating Divine Armor. Like you and me, they fight enveloped in something like an armor of Qi Projection.”

Intrigued, Jang Woo-hyun listened closely.

“They carry immense bodies and the mighty power that comes with it as they charge at enemies. They rarely use weapons. If you ever find yourself involved with them, be careful—their strength operates on a completely different scale from ours.”

Listening, Jang Woo-hyun pondered how to evolve his martial art and what kind of martial arts he should master going forward. If the size difference was too vast, traditional martial arts might not suffice.

‘Let’s not think in only one direction.’

Unlike in the Central Plains, ‘humans’ weren’t the only opponents here, and there were far too many variables. Having arrived in a broader and more diverse world, he needed to break free from bias.

‘Would it work if I unleashed power explosively like Senior Maeng? If I poured immense strength into each strike, maybe I could compensate for what I lack.’

After listening, Jang Woo-hyun tried to find his own solution. Seeing this, Cheol Geuk-jin and Tang Myung stood silently by his side, waiting. Whether it was an epiphany or a mere fleeting thought, this was a crucial moment.

After briefly organizing his thoughts, Jang Woo-hyun lifted his head.

It wasn’t over yet. There was still someone who could offer him another lesson.

“Finished sorting your thoughts? Then come and face me.”

Tang Myung’s tone was light, but Jang Woo-hyun tensed.

The Shadow Heaven Divine Sword. A martial artist who had reached the pinnacle in both swordsmanship and the art of hidden weapons.

The greatest master in the history of the Tang Clan and the previous owner of Dragon King’s Scales.

Jang Woo-hyun couldn’t gauge his current level. He could only vaguely sense that he was stronger than Cheol Geuk-jin.

Tang Myung stood at one side of the battle-torn ground.

“Here I come.”

As he smiled and raised his hand, the box he carried on his back opened.

From within the box, a hundred swords soared into the sky. The box on his back was a type of Inner Robe.

A hundred swords floating in the air.

With a flick of Tang Myung’s hand, the swords rained down toward Jang Woo-hyun.

In the Central Plains, Tang Myung’s alias was the Shadow Heaven Divine Sword.

He was a master who had honed both the art of hidden weapons and the sword to the extreme.

Since Jang Woo-hyun also wielded Dragon King’s Scales, he had a general idea of how Tang Myung would attack.

However, with the very first strike, Jang Woo-hyun realized how completely mistaken he had been.

Thoom!

As he executed True Step, a strong surge of energy erupted beneath his feet, enveloping him like petals. With that single move, he deflected dozens of approaching swords.

But he couldn’t deflect everything.

Some swords, shrouded in powerful force, broke through his defense. Others moved on their own and split apart the rising energy.

Clang!

Jang Woo-hyun deflected the swiftly thrusting sword and blocked the one descending from above.

A heavy force pressed down on his entire body.

Restricting his movements, two swords simultaneously pressured Jang Woo-hyun from both sides with dazzling techniques. He tried to retreat, but other swords were already approaching from behind.

In response, Jang Woo-hyun quickly drew Dragon King’s Scales and activated Whirlwind Slash Seal.

Kwa-ga-ga-ga—

A storm of slashing blades engulfed Jang Woo-hyun.

Hundreds of bladed scales expanded their range, pushing back Tang Myung’s swords.

After repelling the surrounding swords, Jang Woo-hyun extended his hand and channeled his intent, and Dragon King’s Scales flew in from all directions around Tang Myung.

It was Myriad Dragon Scales and Rain unleashed through Dragon King’s Scales.

For a moment, Tang Myung’s swords were pushed back. But it lasted only briefly.

Some swords created sword barriers, some swiftly moved to deflect the bladed scales, and others pressed down with heavy force to crush the incoming blades.

Watching this, Jang Woo-hyun drew out more power.

The martial art that Cheol Geuk-jin had demonstrated was overwhelming strength—massive physical force and the destruction that accompanied it.

In contrast, what Tang Myung showed may have lacked raw destructive power but was on a completely different level in terms of technique.

Each floating sword executed its own sword technique. In other words, Jang Woo-hyun was effectively fighting against a hundred masters.

Myriad Blossoms and Rain is just the beginning.

Those were the words left by the Shadow Heaven Divine Sword Tang Myung.

Seeing the current spectacle, Jang Woo-hyun now understood what he meant.

He was imbuing each sword with intent and controlling them individually. Each sword was both a hidden weapon and a separate lifeform. The power imbued in each was considerable.

Watching Tang Myung deflect Dragon King’s Scales, Jang Woo-hyun poured more strength into the black sword and unleashed Destructive Slash.

Kwaaaang!

With a deafening roar, a hole was torn in the formation of swords blocking Dragon King’s Scales. Like a school of fish swimming through the air, the bladed scales surged through that gap toward the target.

Tang Myung smiled even as he watched the scene.

Then he raised his hand. From the box he carried on his back, countless swords emerged once again, forming a defense around him.

Dozens of sword techniques unfolded anew.

Despite the living swords, the bladed scales of Dragon King’s Scales couldn’t even graze the edge of Tang Myung’s robe.

Having perfectly defended against the attack, Tang Myung immediately launched his counter.

Although a dozen swords had been destroyed by the earlier Destructive Slash, that was all. Nearly two hundred swords still remained and continued to move.

The countless swords that had deflected the bladed scales now converged on Jang Woo-hyun.

The first sword unleashed a dazzling sword technique reminiscent of the Plum Blossom Swordsmen. In response, Jang Woo-hyun countered with Black Wolf Fang of the Silent Night Sword.

The second was a thrust akin to a cavalryman’s spear. As four swords stabbed simultaneously, Jang Woo-hyun deflected the attack with Three Wheels Sword Art.

The attacks continued endlessly.

He deflected downward-pressing swords with Swift Sword Style, and evaded rear attacks with Six-Legged Horse King's Step.

Though he barely held on, as time passed, particles of light began to burst from Jang Woo-hyun’s body. It was proof that Tang Myung’s attacks had broken through and reached the Sacred River Flowing Armor.

Instead of retreating, Jang Woo-hyun stepped into the core of the attacks targeting him. Dozens of different sword techniques were unleashed, and Jang Woo-hyun countered them by unleashing all of his own sword techniques.

In his right hand was the black sword, and in his left was Dragon King’s Scales, which had been turned back into a sword at some point.

Using the Silent Night Sword and the newly refined pure form of Swift Sword Style, he unleashed Light Step, Shadow Slash, and Lightning Net.

He evaded with Six-Legged Horse King's Step and deflected with Three Wheels Sword Art.

He extracted and used martial arts condensed within the Myriad Sword Seal, poured out every irregular movement of Windstorm Great Saint, and even incorporated the attacking style of the Fierce-Fisted Heroine.

While unleashing every martial art he had, he also took in the forms of the swords attacking him. Jang Woo-hyun was growing within Tang Myung’s assault.

Even as the Sacred River Flowing Armor shattered, blood splattered, and his flesh was cut, he didn’t care. Like dancing a sword dance, he moved among hundreds of blades.

‘This is difficult.’

It wasn’t clumsy power.

He had stepped into Transcendence, but the outlaws of Bi Ik-ryeon had never truly fought. The cultivators he faced lacked offensive strength relative to their power. And even Sa Do-woong, whom he fought recently, was somehow off.

Comparing them would be an insult. Cheol Geuk-jin and Tang Myung were true masters of the Boundless Realm. Even pouring everything he had wasn’t enough to reach them.

But he didn’t despair. He didn’t give up.

He simply enjoyed being able to unleash all he had.

Jang Woo-hyun smiled as he moved endlessly.

Amidst the pouring attacks, he learned what he could and discarded what he couldn’t.

The sword techniques flowing from his hands began to change.

Silent Night Sword transformed into an unknown form of Swift Sword. Three Wheels Sword Art deflected powerful downward strikes and transformed into a sword style he’d never seen—a Heavy Sword technique.

Jang Woo-hyun began to steal the sword techniques of the many swords attacking him.

Tang Myung watched Jang Woo-hyun with a hardened expression. Beside him, Cheol Geuk-jin approached and stood.

“What is that?”

“What else? He’s a genius greater than us.”

Cheol Geuk-jin replied, then chuckled.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“Don’t talk to me—I need to focus.”

“Focus? You’re not even really fighting.”

Ignoring Tang Myung’s words, Cheol Geuk-jin continued speaking.

“Amazing, isn’t he?”

He gave no reply, but Tang Myung silently agreed with the sentiment.

Before he had Ascended, he had been both the pinnacle of hidden weapon techniques and the Invincible Divine Sword. Naturally, he had reached the title of the world’s best.

Even in Tang Myung’s eyes, Jang Woo-hyun’s skill was exceptional.

He seemed to possess legendary physiques such as the Heavenly Martial Body, the Heaven-Defying Body, the Asura Demon Body, and the True Martial God, along with incredible instincts—as though born with every blessing imaginable.

Tang Myung’s gaze turned to Jang Woo-hyun’s face.

Even while surrounded by countless swords, he was smiling.

Smiling as he refined his martial arts. While receiving Tang Myung’s attacks.

Tang Myung had never felt this kind of emotion while attacking someone before.

Genius.

That word fit the man in front of him.

Tang Myung had heard it often while in the Central Plains. No, even after rising to the Central Heavens Realm, he had continued to hear it. He had grown rapidly even after Ascension, and the level he had reached was by no means low.

Yet, watching Jang Woo-hyun, Tang Myung found himself wondering if the word ‘genius’ really suited him.

“How long has that fellow been training in martial arts?”

“When I first met him, he was already at the Supreme Peak. Back then, he said he had trained for about two years.”

“What?”

Tang Myung turned his head at the unbelievable pace of growth.

“He began martial arts at a late age, spent two years training, and reached that level.”

“Really? Not a lie?”

“At first, he tried to deceive me—claimed he had trained for a long time. But to my eyes, that wasn’t the case. When I pressed him, he honestly said it had been two years.”

The story was so hard to believe, Tang Myung was left speechless.

“Then… how long did it take for him to get here?”

“I think it’s been about thirty years. That’s how much time passed since I met him.”

“Ha!”

A hollow laugh escaped Tang Myung’s lips.

Tang Myung, once known as the Invincible Divine Sword and the greatest master in the Tang Clan’s history, and Cheol Geuk-jin, once hailed as the strongest of the Unorthodox Sects and closest to being the world’s best, had both trained for a lifetime.

But Jang Woo-hyun? He claimed it took him around thirty years.

Even accounting for discrepancies in time, compared to those who trained their whole lives before Ascension, Jang Woo-hyun had taken about half the time.

“Hmph.”

A dissatisfied grunt escaped Tang Myung’s lips, and he moved his hand.

‘He’s a bit annoying.’

The swords that had surrounded Jang Woo-hyun flew into a single spot and merged into one.

“Brilliant junior, try stopping this.”

With a trace of envy, Tang Myung added strength to his weapon.

Seeing this, Cheol Geuk-jin smirked beside him in understanding. Jang Woo-hyun’s talent was enough to stir jealousy even in those once called geniuses.

But there was something the two of them didn’t know.

Jang Woo-hyun had slipped through a rift in time, thrown out of his time axis, and only just now had they met him. In truth, he had spent very little actual time cultivating martial arts.

If they knew it had only taken him about two years to Ascend, their feelings wouldn’t be mere envy—they would be sheer terror.