Chapter 1135: Scorched World.

Clatter clatter.

Thick dust billowed out. Seeing this, I brushed myself off. Far off, Cheonjun’s presence could still be felt.

An attack landed. What’s regrettable is that the feel wasn’t entirely pleasant.

‘Blocked.’

It seems he generated Ki energy within that short gap to block the attack. As expected, he is called the pinnacle of martial artists, so he’d have to do at least this much.

However.

‘It seems to be as expected.’

I had learned something after exchanging blows with Cheonjun.

And that was.

‘Simma (Inner Demon).’

Cheonjun was currently engulfed by Simma. Just as it was in my past life and the world I was in, he was enveloped by Simma around this time.

For a martial artist, Simma is like a disaster. It not only prevents them from doing what they normally could, but it also blinds them, making everything they want to see and hear impossible.

Even.

‘There aren’t many ways to treat it.’

Because it’s a significant mental issue, there weren’t many methods to treat or cure it.

Such a strange and weak thing is binding Cheonjun.

The reason I could know this was thanks to this life.

‘Cheonjun, when freed from Simma, felt completely different from his aura.’

Perhaps Sichuan.

More precisely, Cheonjun, who had escaped Simma thanks to Father. The appearance and aura I knew were completely different from his current state.

He was a person with a benevolent and strong character.

It was to the point where I wondered if he was the same arrogant and ill-mannered old man I knew.

‘So the old geezer right now isn’t him.’

The Cheonjun I see now was the Cheonjun from my past life.

The very person who was easily defeated by Cheonma.

The difference is stark. So much so that it’s impossible not to notice.

Which means.

‘If he’s in his current state…’

I can win. I judged so.

Kureureureureureung—-!!!

The sound of thunder striking again echoed from afar. Light erupted. The moment I saw it, I twisted my upper body.

Then.

Kwaaaaaaaa—-!!!

An immense flash of light erupted towards me.

Rather than blocking it, I had to let it flow past.

Chiiiiiiik-!!

‘Damn.’

I tried to wrap Ki energy around my forearm to let it flow past, but even amidst this, the heat tried to tear through the Ki. It meant that even afflicted with Simma, Cheonjun was still Cheonjun.

Kwaaa.

Containing the heat as well, I deflected it and gave my waist a recoil.

My legs spun accordingly, cutting through the air.

Kwagak-!!

My instep blocked something. It was a blade. Cheonjun was charging at me with his sword.

“Hup!”

I felt the power. Infused with momentum, I deflected this as well.

Tung-!! Cheonjun’s body vibrated, creating distance. At that moment, I also unleashed my martial arts.

Hwaaaa-!!

I strengthened the Black Sky, which had momentarily subsided, boosting the power in my body.

Jiiiiing-!!

Maximizing the Wheel of Fire, I conversely suppressed my presence.

Uuuuuung-!!

Using the Azure Sky as a companion, I increased my body’s mobility. Overlapping with the Black Sky, my body reacted as if in turmoil.

Putting power into my body to a degree that felt somewhat excessive, I charged straight at Cheonjun.

“Hup!”

As if Cheonjun had anticipated even my speed, he quickly swung his sword imbued with lightning.

The rapid speed left distinct afterimages, as if countless swords existed, but I wasn’t so powerless as to take them all.

Because my increased speed was fast enough to keep up with Cheonjun’s sword.

After deflecting all the exchanges, I rolled my eyes.

‘…Well now.’

A sigh slipped out slightly.

This sword dance. I felt like I’d seen it somewhere familiar.

Shwirik-!!

Just as Cheonjun’s sword was about to gain more speed.

Kwak-!

Tung-!!

“…What?”

Cheonjun suddenly dropped his sword. The sword fell powerlessly and rolled on the ground. Watching it, Cheonjun froze like stone.

What just happened? He had a look of utter incomprehension on his face.

Looking at him, I asked.

“What are you doing?”

At my words, Cheonjun’s eyes turned towards me.

“A swordsman dropping his sword. How can you be this weak?”

“You bastard…!”

Cheonjun grit his teeth and charged. He didn’t pick up his sword. When I reached out, the sword was automatically sucked into Cheonjun’s grasp.

Kureureung-!

The sword imbued with lightning was about to rain down on me again.

Paak-!

It was the same this time. Cheonjun dropped the sword he was holding once again.

“How…!”

As Cheonjun dropped his sword upon my striking his wrist, he finally seemed to realize something was wrong and looked at me.

“How, you ask?”

He seemed to want to ask how I could block his sword so easily. Seeing that, I decided to answer.

“Can’t you see?”

“See…?”

“Yes.”

I can see the sword. It was the same when I returned less than a year ago, during Namgung Cheonjun’s time, and it’s the same this time.

“Your crude sword cannot reach me.”

The current sword of the Namgung family. As long as he wields a fallen and degenerated sword style, Cheonjun cannot reach me.

“Know your place. You loser who ran away to the heavens.”

Namgung Bi-ah, who received the choice of Thunder Fang and was called the Sword Empress.

Unless it’s at her sword’s level, the fatal weakness in the Namgung family’s sword still exists.

Speed and firepower being high is different from the perfection and mastery of swordsmanship.

That was also the reason Cheonjun never became the Sword Master.

And.

“You bastaaaard-!!!”

Kuaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa——–!!!!

An aura of a different caliber than before erupted. That old geezer had been storing this much energy all along.

‘What a true old fossil.’

What else could that be but an old fossil?

Kuaaaaaaa-!!

The light from the lightning energy was enough to blind me. It was unpleasant to look at, so I had to cover my pupils with Ki energy.

Kureureung-!!

Kwaaa-!!

The released lightning energy swept through the entire forest. It seemed he had no intention of controlling it anymore. Even…

“Kuhk!”

It started affecting his own grandson, Namgung Hyung.

Seeing that, I snapped my fingers.

Ttak-!

With a short sound, a barrier formed around Namgung Hyung.

Kwaaa-!

The lightning energy was blocked by the barrier and couldn’t move.

“Hahk…”

Namgung Hyung looked astonished watching it. Looking at Namgung Hyung, I said.

“If you can’t get lost, at least stay still. You’re annoying.”

“……”

After saying that curtly, I looked straight at Cheonjun.

The old geezer seemed overflowing with power, as the aura continued to be emitted.

‘How much is that?’

I certainly don’t fall behind in terms of aura capacity. If we were to compare, mine would probably be higher.

‘In terms of unleashing firepower, he seems stronger than me.’

The part where he efficiently uses his aura to release greater firepower. Cheonjun seemed better at that.

That makes sense. He’s a person who focused on firepower because he knew his sword was lacking.

‘What should I do?’

Should I just push forward with firepower like this?

Even while causing such a rampage, seeing the details, it seems he isn’t letting his guard down.

He’s just angry because his sensitive spot was touched.

In that case.

‘I need to create an opening.’

I need to create an opening to break through that.

The problem is, how?

Just as I was pondering how to do it.

‘Ah.’

It came to mind.

‘It seems worth trying?’

It was a plan that looked slightly amusing.

---

Kureureung-!

Cheonjun unleashed his lightning energy to the fullest, contorting his expression.

‘How dare that guy.’

Something no one should touch. Not only Anhui, but he spoke words in the entire Central Plains that no one dared say to him.

‘Your crude sword cannot reach me.’

‘Know your place. You loser who ran away to the heavens.’

Crude sword.

Loser who ran away to the heavens.

Those words grated on Cheonjun’s every nerve.

He had lived his whole life being called a genius. He sought to reach the heavens by mastering the Namgung family’s sword.

‘Because of that Sword Master guy.’

Sword Master Wi Hyugun.

He was ultimately blocked by a wall because of that guy, who received overwhelming praise for his swordsmanship.

However, since controlling lightning energy existed, if he couldn’t achieve it with the sword, he would become the greatest under heaven through that field.

He lived thinking that way.

The problem was, perhaps because he neglected the sword somewhat? Thunder Fang, the treasure and symbol of the Namgung family, did not choose him.

The Namgung family, called the Sword-Illustrious Family, neglects the sword.

Whether that fact displeased Thunder Fang, or for whatever other reason, he didn’t know.

However, the Namgung family’s tradition.

Cheonjun defied the rule that one must receive Thunder Fang’s choice to become the family head.

He possessed talent commensurate with that; swaying the elders was possible.

Since no one else had received Thunder Fang’s choice either, not even himself.

It was only right that he become the next family head.

Thunder Fang’s choice? That wasn’t necessary.

Because he himself was the Namgung.

‘Sword is lacking?’

The Namgung family is still a prestigious family despite that. Wi Hyugun was exceptional, but the Namgung family wasn’t falling behind.

And yet.

‘What is that guy?’

Just what the hell is that Cheonma fellow?

He suddenly appeared and dismantled my sword techniques as if it were nothing.

It was instantaneous.

To exploit a gap in that brief moment and strike my wrist.

It was impossible unless one had considerable confidence.

‘What is his identity?’

What could his identity possibly be? Why did he appear like this?

‘Perhaps.’

Is that guy also related to ‘that person’? If so, why me?

While various questions dug into his mind.

‘No. Forget it.’

Cheonjun erased the thoughts. That wasn’t important right now.

‘I’ll kill him.’

What’s important is killing that guy who touched my sensitive spot.

And.

‘That too.’

His grandson, who could draw out Thunder Fang. He intended to erase his own grandson as well.

The grandson didn’t even know what value he possessed.

No, even if that wasn’t the case.

‘Thunder Fang isn’t important anymore.’

He could become the family head even without it; if it were impossible, he would make it so.

Because he himself was the Namgung.

Just as Cheonjun thought this and was about to muster all his strength.

“I’ll borrow this for a moment.”

The guy called Cheonma uttered incomprehensible words.

Then.

Shwirik-!

“Wh-what…?”

“Wha-!”

Cheonjun and Namgung Hyung reacted with shock.

Thunder Fang, which Namgung Hyung was holding, suddenly flew over and was caught in Cheonma’s hand.

“What the-!”

Cheonjun exclaimed in shock. Cheonma grasped Thunder Fang, which even a blood relative of the Namgung family couldn’t properly hold.

That wasn’t all.

“Bite them.”

Cheonma grasped Thunder Fang and spoke its name.

“Thunder Fang (雷牙).”

Kuaaaaaaaaaaa-!!!

An immense energy erupted from Thunder Fang, engulfing Cheonjun and Namgung Hyung.