Chapter 66

Geumshin didn’t just charge in recklessly.

Carefully, yet fiercely, he pressed forward. Following the Hundred Directions Footwork Technique, the Phoenix Pine Staff Technique aimed for the vital points of the Black Sword Ghost, extending its reach.

*Clang!*

A collision sound, as if the wooden staff and sword had clashed.

The weight of the Phoenix Pine Staff, modeled after the pride of Guhwa Mountain, the “First Pine of the World,” resonated through the Black Sword Ghost’s wrist.

‘This is no ordinary wooden staff.’

The wood itself is of high quality, but it undoubtedly has a metal core embedded within. Otherwise, such heaviness wouldn’t be possible.

“Chahap!”

With a strong shout, Geumshin pressed down on the staff and leaped into the air. The Hundred Directions Footwork Technique isn’t just a simple movement technique—it encompasses a form of kicking technique as well. In an instant, Geumshin’s crossed legs targeted the Black Sword Ghost’s temples.

“Hup!”

*Creak—Snap!*

The Black Sword Ghost forcefully pushed away Geumshin’s staff while twisting his body. Adopting a posture similar to the Iron Mountain Stance, he extended his shoulder. As Geumshin’s foot touched the Black Sword Ghost’s shoulder, he was flung back by the recoil.

*Thud!*

It was a loud reverberation, as if a temple bell had been struck.

The shock traveling up from his foot caused a flicker of pain to cross Geumshin’s determined expression.

‘The internal energy of the Great Vow Heart Technique is infused with spiritual power… This is absurd internal energy.’

Having trained in the Great Vow Heart Technique, Geumshin found it merely difficult, but an ordinary martial artist would have suffered internal injuries from such a sinister penetrating force.

Geumshin’s eyes grew even more cautious. If the defensive energy of the Great Vow Heart Technique were breached, he too could be instantly incapacitated by that penetrating force.

“Is this all you’ve got?”

“Not a chance!”

The opponent is strong. A single mistake could lead to fatal consequences.

The situation is dire. The enemies led by the Black Sword Ghost are pushing back the Hwaseong Temple monks.

Yet, an even greater fighting spirit surged within Geumshin’s heart.

“O Bodhisattva of the Southern Flame!”

Chanting the name of the Bodhisattva, Geumshin poured more internal energy into his staff. The overflowing energy caused a shockwave around the staff as he launched another attack.

The staff’s movements were fierce. For a monk practicing Buddhism, the attacks were excessively violent.

Dodging the staff aimed at his head, the Black Sword Ghost exclaimed lightly,

“You’re not a monk, but a martial artist!”

*Clang! Whooosh!*

The energy imbued in their weapons clashed, creating a gust of wind. The bare branches of winter trees shook violently.

Geumshin’s figure moved incessantly.

His feet executed the Hundred Directions Footwork Technique, while his arms swung the staff in the patterns of the Phoenix Pine Staff Technique. In his mind, the flow of battle was visualized, and in his chest, the true energy of the Great Vow Heart Technique raced alongside the beating of his heart.

It was a relentless assault, a state of no-self.

The staff, increasing in speed, created a sonic boom as it grazed the Black Sword Ghost’s body. The shockwave from the staff tore away pieces of clothing, revealing its deadly power.

But the Black Sword Ghost’s sword was even sharper.

*Swoosh!*

A fierce slash cut through Geumshin’s chest robe. Feeling a sharp pain, Geumshin concentrated his internal energy on the wound. The cut was shallow. He also blocked the penetrating force of the Black Sword Ghost’s energy in time.

However, the Black Sword Ghost didn’t wait. Amidst the blood droplets scattering in the air, another sharp sword light flashed.

*Slash!*

“Kuh!”

Just as he thought he had blocked it, the Black Sword Ghost’s sword split Geumshin’s staff in half, dividing his vision. Along with the eerie black light, blood sprayed from Geumshin’s upper body once more.

A horizontal slash followed by a vertical slash.

He had to retreat. Instinctively, Geumshin executed the retreating steps of the Hundred Directions Footwork Technique.

“…You’re not chasing.”

“Not chasing? Your focus is impressive.”

What does that mean? As Geumshin pondered the Black Sword Ghost’s words,

“Huuuh…!”

He finally realized the surging wave of immense energy.

Why hadn’t he noticed it earlier? It was being emitted so blatantly.

It was proof of how much he had focused on the fight with the Black Sword Ghost. Had he not been so concentrated, his body would have been quartered by the Black Sword Ghost’s blade long ago.

‘It’s not that you didn’t chase, but that you couldn’t!’

The presence was approaching moment by moment.

This kind of energy wave was something Geumshin had never experienced before. Even the strongest monk of Hwaseong Temple would be a novice compared to the Black Sword Ghost. Where could he have felt such energy before?

The closer it got, the more his skin tingled.

A terrifying energy wave. The depth of the internal energy was beyond comprehension.

“A monster has arrived.”

The Black Sword Ghost turned his attention away from Geumshin and adjusted his stance.

The sword energy on the Black Sword Ghost’s demonic sword began to gather more densely. As it increased in density, the black sword energy swallowed the light, compressing into aura energy.

Watching this, Geumshin realized the Black Sword Ghost had been holding back. That comment about the Phoenix Pine Staff being decent wasn’t just empty praise. He had been toying with Geumshin to observe Hwaseong Temple’s martial arts.

‘Is this fortunate or not?’

That complacency had caught the Black Sword Ghost off guard.

As Geumshin felt both anger at his wounded pride as a martial artist and a sense of relief, the Black Sword Ghost took his next move.

“Sssuuu—.”

With a shallow yet deep inhale, followed by a short exhale.

Gathering all his strength into a single strike, the Black Sword Ghost unleashed a slash far beyond what he had used against Geumshin.

*Whooosh!*

Geumshin’s eyes widened.

A sword aura-infused slash. It was a transcendent strike, one he couldn’t even dream of replicating.

Yet, regardless of the profound principles and enlightenment contained within that slash, to Geumshin, it seemed utterly meaningless.

Empty air. A black trajectory was drawn across it.

However, contrary to Geumshin’s thoughts, the Black Sword Ghost’s slash was never meant to be a mere display.

The immense presence pressing down on the Black Sword Ghost’s spirit through the energy wave—he had severed that intangible force.

“Upper Dantian’s ability. Crude, but strong.”

The Black Sword Ghost muttered as he resumed his stance.

Just as Geumshin thought it was a soliloquy, he finally sensed someone beside him.

‘They were quite far away, already here?’

Geumshin turned his stiff muscles to look.

A young man. Perhaps a few years past his twenties? Despite having crossed a considerable distance in an instant, he showed no signs of fatigue. It was proof that he hadn’t even exerted his full strength.

‘Is this possible? Without being an ancient master who has reversed aging…’

While Geumshin was astonished, someone else was even more shocked.

‘The sky…’

It was Jegal Seon-a.

Jegal Seon-a’s Resonance Power is the ability to harmonize and resonate with the universe.

What is resonance? It’s when the heart moves in sync with a certain feeling. When sincere wishes reach the divine.

But in the distant future, it also refers to objects within a force field taking on similar properties due to its influence.

Jegal Seon-a’s Resonance Power applies to all three, but it leans closest to the last.

Thus, Jegal Seon-a’s mental state is vulnerable to external forces. Knowing this, the Jegal Family had used the Resonance Star Sky Diagram to protect her mental state, but in her current condition, with her mental strength and internal energy greatly depleted, even the mental barrier couldn’t perform its role.

Especially since, until just now, Jegal Seon-a had been facing the Black Sword Ghost’s overwhelming energy wave head-on, leaving her mental barrier half-destroyed. Even as Geumshin fought fiercely with the Black Sword Ghost, Jegal Seon-a couldn’t assist for this reason.

Before Jegal Seon-a’s eyes, a vast blue sky stretched endlessly.

“Ah…”

It was comforting.

Resonance Power, while highly versatile, also has many side effects.

In the face of the Black Sword Ghost’s oppressive hostility, it becomes infinitely small, but under solid protection, it becomes infinitely strong.

Jegal Seon-a lifted her drooping head. All she could see was the fluttering robe covering the back of the figure before her, but that back alone gave her a sense of stability.

It was vast. Boundless. To the point where she felt a certain conviction that, no matter when or where, this person would protect her.

As Jegal Seon-a stared blankly at Namgung Woo’s back with half-lidded eyes, the situation continued to unfold.

The Black Sword Ghost, still maintaining his sword aura, spoke.

“This ends here.”

“You come here on your own, and now you decide to end it on your own?”

“I know you’re strong. But you’re alone. More are coming, but before that, those Hwaseong Temple monks will meet their end.”

Namgung Woo had rushed here alone, realizing the urgency of the situation.

This was the first time he had pushed the Thousand Miles Courtyard Steps to its limit. Even now, others were probably struggling to catch up.

The Black Sword Ghost’s words were true. Compared to Han Gyeran of Haedong, he seemed a step lower, but the Black Sword Ghost was still a formidable Transcendent Peak master.

While he kept Namgung Woo occupied, the Black Sword Squad would slaughter the Hwaseong Temple monks.

“Great Hero.”

Before Namgung Woo could respond,

Jegal Seon-a barely managed to part her lips.

Where had it been? In her hand was a sword slightly over two feet (60cm) long.

“There’s no need to accept it.”

What Jegal Seon-a held was far from a weapon.

A sword with ornate decorations and a blunt blade. Made of a strange material resembling bone or jade, it wasn’t a weapon but a magical artifact.

“Baekseo (魄栖)…! So it was here after all!”

Seeing Jegal Seon-a holding it, the Black Sword Ghost’s eyes shook violently. The composure he had maintained while facing Namgung Woo wavered for a moment.

“Black Sword Squad! Fall back!”

At the Black Sword Ghost’s shout, Jegal Seon-a planted the artifact, Baekseo, into the ground.

“I’ll protect the others.”