Chapter 700

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

700=====================

Jin So-cheong thought this might be his final battle. And it probably would be. No matter how optimistically he assessed it, the odds of surviving after inserting himself into the clash between the Eight Legions and Zhurong were less than a hair's breadth. He knew that fact better than anyone. With his current level of skill—far from reaching the Transcendent Realm, not even fully surpassing a mere immortal—it was utterly impossible.

Even so, he had to fight.

He had no choice but to fight now.

Jin So-cheong repeated this to himself as he pressed forward. Enveloped in the light of the Thunder God Soul, his gaze remained fixed ahead.

He had his own reasons.

Those reasons had been forged in his battle against the White Lotus Leader.

Just moments ago, Jin So-cheong had faced the White Lotus Leader, who wandered in a trance. His assigned role had been merely to behead the Young Cult Leader and strike the Leader's reverse scale. Yet he had deliberately appeared before her and challenged her to combat. He could not bear to grant a warrior he respected a meaningless death.

But Jin So-cheong, who had initially approached with some pity, was profoundly shocked as he exchanged initial moves with her. The Leader faced an unavoidable death in a battle where victory or defeat meant the end, yet she refused to yield and gave her all. Maximizing her use of the Primordial Spirit, she drove Jin So-cheong into crisis. Though her skill had always surpassed his, even with her reverse scale pierced, she matched him nearly evenly. It could even be called Jin So-cheong's defeat.

What drove the Leader?

Witnessing her tenacity and fighting spirit until the very end, Jin So-cheong suddenly realized what he lacked that the lords of the Three Great Powers possessed.

The will to save humanity!

It was altruism at the pinnacle of self-interest, yet they were prepared to sacrifice everything for their true goal. The Leader had fought to the last, believing only she could save humanity, burning all she had.

Jin So-cheong could not imagine fighting so fiercely for another. Let alone for a collective called “humanity” that might not even exist—it transcended ordinary imagination. It was distinct from the pure pursuit of martial arts' ultimate pinnacle, stained with vulgarity, yet it unleashed a mental fortitude that overwhelmed even the purest seekers of martial truth.

They were, at the very least, those who enforced their will. Beings who demonstrated what their lives meant through action.

As he arrived here, he kept thinking.

What did he fight for?

What did he have?

...In truth, nothing.

Jin So-cheong's persistent melancholy stemmed not from the cowardly act of exploiting the Leader's weakness, but from freshly realizing his own utter emptiness. Neither the revival of the Thunder God Style, nor the long journey against the [Ancient Ruler], nor vengeance against the emperor who killed his father, nor rage against the two-legged ones who treated humans as playthings, nor zeal against the divine beings who deceived the world's history—none of it. After Baek Woong's reincarnation, he had merely done what he could, nothing more.

There was nothing wrong with that. The lords of the Three Great Powers and Baek Woong were simply unprecedented freaks and anomalies; Jin So-cheong was utterly normal.

However.

Those unconcerned with the ultimate pinnacle of martial arts had pursued madness for their goals—and thereby attained strength transcending martial essence itself. Why? Pondering the nature of that madness, Jin So-cheong reached a conclusion.

He too must go mad.

Contenting himself with talent in safety, merely awaiting time’s passage, he could never surpass them. Even if he objectively grew stronger later, he could not match the obsession to move the world with that strength.

He had to actively harness—even violently—his talent and cross the line of death.

Only then could he transcend their stature.

It would also fill the unbearable void within him.

He had never truly enjoyed life until now.

Was it tragic if this too was merely instinct from his talent, a product of it? In truth, a soft, budding sensation kept urging him to fight, and it felt as though that sensation would become reality.

Jin So-cheong forcibly ignored the fleeting thought.

‘I must surpass it.’

He had to surpass this impossible battlefield.

Surpass himself.

Embody that martial arts meant overcoming the self.

Merely serving as a limb for Baek Woong would not help him henceforth; thus, he resolved to writhe on his own.

Thud.

Accelerating via the Thunder God Soul, he arrived at the battlefield. For a brief moment, he took in the azure giant Zhurong and the Eight Legions with both eyes, confirming their tremendous power. His lips paled with overwhelming despair.

Impossible to oppose.

No one on this battlefield could be defeated by him.

They had all transcended humanity eons ago!

Why had he walked into his own grave?

The instant he confirmed this desperate reality, Jin So-cheong felt a strange sensation sweep through his heart. A tainted pleasure bloomed within him like a flower—refreshing as it deceived the human brain, yet sticky and filthy with dregs.

Yes—this was madness.

And so, human Jin So-cheong’s battle began.

What?

Zhurong noticed Jin So-cheong's presence first. Operating with the broadest field of vision to seize three of the Eight Legions at once, a fly-like human charging at tremendous speed could not escape a god's senses. But upon assessing the human's combat power, he rapidly lost interest.

Just a bug.

Lesser beings might grade such bugs by tiers, but to a divine existence like him, it meant nothing. Was there reason to discern which was stronger, a cicada or a ladybug?

Zhurong merely wished to watch the bug self-destruct amid battle rather than swat it himself. Sadistic and brutally cruel, he left Jin So-cheong alone, hoping the human's folly would make the Eight Legions despair.

The Eight Legions noticed shortly after. Unsure what the fool was doing, they merely observed. Already strained against Zhurong, what did one human matter? No need to expend effort killing him.

Thoroughly ignored in an instant, Jin So-cheong gathered his will and unleashed Absolute Realm martial arts.

Absolute Realm

Thunder God Soul

Thunder Transformation

His body blurred, suddenly transforming with the spirit of lightning. Unlike Yi Cheong-un's, it was not a complete bolt but flickered around his outline. Lacking the immense inner power to fully manifest the Thunder God Soul despite partial understanding, Jin So-cheong could only draw it briefly in battle. Compared to Yi Cheong-un's constant transformation, his offense and defense fell far short.

Yet this did not mean his attainment was low. Having comprehended the Thunder God Soul, he wielded its principles fully. Jin So-cheong transformed his spear into lightning and hurled it straight at Mahoraga of the Eight Legions.

Clang.

Dissonant tones rang around Mahoraga's body, an automatic barrier blocking Jin So-cheong's thunder spear. Confirming the impudent human as foe, Mahoraga scowled and spat divine words.

[ Die! ]

Keeeng—

In that instant, Jin So-cheong sensed sonic waves piercing and shredding his body. He could dodge sound's speed, but Mahoraga's divine utterance was ancient sorcery immune to evasion by movement or reflex. Moreover, the power within shattered his mind instantly, beginning to rip his soul.

Crackle.

Thunder Transformation dissolved like a joke, veins bulging across Jin So-cheong's body. He should have oxidized into pulp from one strike, but his will resisted.

“Krk!”

He screamed. And shuddered at Mahoraga's power. Even so, to think an Absolute Realm expert like himself faced instant death from one attack by the Eight Legions? Their main bodies truly surpassed the Transcendent Realm. Even Mahoraga, the weakest among them, could crush current Jin So-cheong like a bug.

Mahoraga's brow twitched.

[ You endured that? For a human... not bad... ]

A nearby Celestial grumbled.

[ He'll be combat-ineffective anyway. Ignore him and focus on Zhurong. ]

[ Fine. ]

Splurt.

Proving their words, Jin So-cheong's left arm exploded. His will had endured, but he could no longer withstand the spell's might. With one arm lost, recovery seemed impossible.

Kwarung.

Ignoring Jin So-cheong, beams of light numbering tens of thousands rained between Zhurong and the Eight Legions, igniting the sky in blazing inferno. Amid this titanic clash unfit for the era, Jin So-cheong plummeted from the void.

Whooo.

In skies aflame with hellfire and frenzy, the blood-soaked Jin So-cheong thought. No sense of loss over his missing arm.

‘Why?’

He was a bug.

Perceived as such by foes, and truly so.

He deserved to taste despairing death like a bug—

‘Fun.’

He couldn't conceal the surging thrill in his heart. Simply surrendering to madness yielded unprecedented ecstasy. Unbelievable, yet real. Smiling, Jin So-cheong reached out.

Shall we enjoy it?

Swish.

A thunder spear flew into his falling hand. He somehow grasped this turmoil's flow, knew his role in this chaotic battlefield. Indescribable, yet every quivering instinct within guided him.

His body itched.

He wanted to fight.

Absolute Realm

Heaven-Shaking!

This time without Thunder God Soul, Jin So-cheong shot through the void. Inner power and will largely spent, it was egg against rock—but he targeted Garuda. Left unchecked, its divine flames would soon incinerate him truly.

Needless to say, Garuda was no mere flame-spitter.

[ Hmph. ]

With divine senses and reflexes, Garuda instantly detected Jin So-cheong's killing intent, firing a pillar of flame without turning—aimed perfectly. The Eight Legions' physical prowess rivaled Absolute Realm masters despite no martial training.

Boom.

Jin So-cheong's position incinerated instantly, becoming uninhabitable. Garuda dismissed the pest, but next instant felt emptiness in his chest.

[......? ]

A silver thorn had pierced him. Jin So-cheong's spear. Naturally, his one-handed form had completed the strike.

[ Huh? ]

Jin So-cheong was already gathering qi anew. As Garuda gaped in disbelief, Orchid's ultimate technique activated, shredding him.

Splurt.

Jin So-cheong's face remained serene. Amid whirling spearblade, he charged the adjacent Celestial without pause. The Celestial realized the impossible but unleashed known ancient sorcery.

“Ngh.”

Thud thud.

Sorcery runes embedded in Jin So-cheong's body, erupting blood fountains. Even Thunder Transformation couldn't evade the Celestial's spells.

[ What? That guy... ]

The Celestial faltered briefly. Hit by his sorcery and blown back, Jin So-cheong still hovered, combat power intact. A normal human would have died ten times over—what was this?

‘Did that human neutralize the spell with will?’

How?

Theoretically possible, but such genius senses unheard of.

Matching the spell's waveform for instantaneous willful resistance—feasible?

Heaven Realm rabble might include Transcendents capable, but none the Celestial had met.

“ Raaagh!!”

But bloodied like a gore-man, Jin So-cheong's eyes blazed as he attacked again. Watching Celestial and Mahoraga then realized one fact.

This guy.

He's stronger than before.

Stab!

Too late—the Celestial's throat impaled on Jin So-cheong's spear. Its defensive barrier couldn't contain the spear's latent power.

[...... ]

Of course, no fatal wound. Not struck by vital points, nor by Zhurong—even Garuda, ambushed moments ago, would revive soon. He too would briefly vanish, then resurrect.

Such was the gulf between Eight Legions and mere human. A battle impossible to win.

Yet the featureless luminous form of the Celestial felt alien unease. A one-armed human rampaging madly impressed even an otherworldly being.

[ Impressive... A human like you... first I've seen. ]

Swoosh.

Vanishing temporarily, the Celestial left admiring words. Jin So-cheong's talent was too absurd to dismiss as human. Mahoraga sensed it too, face paling slightly.

[ Hahaha! Decent bug. I like— ]

As Zhurong guffawed at the farce, before words ended, Jin So-cheong charged and thrust with full power.

Boom!!

[...... ]

Zhurong fell speechless. Instinctively, he'd used divine force to block—perceiving threat to his divine body. Meaning Jin So-cheong's potential had momentarily risen to rip a god.

Yet separately, Zhurong felt absurdity.

[ You... dare. ]

Even so, a mad human brazenly lunging at Zhurong, viceroy beneath Three Sovereigns Five Emperors? No anger—too beyond common sense. Stunned unprecedented in millennia, Zhurong froze unbefitting a god.

Blood-drenched, Jin So-cheong gasped.

Exhausted in stamina and qi, one or two more clashes meant certain death—but he didn't care. No escape anyway. Zhuge's plan utterly derailed, but no time for that.

Even now, he grew stronger. No reason, but he knew.

Next clash, stronger yet.

Like a star guiding through darkness, Jin So-cheong naturally followed the flow.

That was—Absolute Realm Heaven-Shaking.

A realm unique to him, inexplicable by techniques, martial theory, or training.

A heresy denying millennia of martial history through talent alone.

A paradox manifesting only when he truly relished struggle in extremity.

‘Give it my all.’

Abandoning survival for peak efficiency—too contradictory. Yet accepting death and immersing, Jin So-cheong did not wail. Instead, spear aimed at giant Zhurong, he said.

“Once more?”

Jin So-cheong was enjoying it.

For the first time in this life.