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.