Chapter 106

Chapter 106
Chapter 106

The boundless sky dominated his entire field of view. Even after stretching his neck back as far as possible, nothing met his gaze except the infinite blue canopy. Baek Yang-hui stared upward into the lofty, distant firmament.

SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: Return and Fulfill Wish (行願), Return to Correct Flow (順流).

A grand, earth-shaking voice echoed through the heavens once more.

Fulfill your desires and guide the current back into harmony with the natural order.

The words he heard at the moment of his death in his previous existence sounded strikingly similar. Back then, the voice had proclaimed:

Heaven-Defying Life Swap. Return to Correct Flow, Return and Fulfill Wish.

The reversal of heaven’s flow altered your destined path. Return now, act upon your desires, rectify the misdirected currents, and uphold the natural way.

‘As expected, my regression… was undoubtedly the work of some higher entity.’

It came as no real surprise. He had harbored a vague suspicion ever since that sudden influx of celestial energy into his dantian. Yet, that issue took a backseat for the moment.

SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: Correcting what has gone astray establishes the natural order, and yielding to that order constitutes adherence to reason. Consequently, all things beneath heaven move along a single path—the root, the true flow that rights all wrongs. I now pass down to my descendants the method for riding the natural order and wielding power in harmony with its current!

It felt marvelous. Like a newborn calf learning how to walk within less than half a shichen. It carried the sensation of finally awakening to something intrinsic since birth. In other words, a state of complete selflessness.

SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: Heavenly Escape Sword Art (天道劍法), First Form: Heaven Press (天押).

The Heavenly Escape Sword Art. The legendary sword technique purportedly taught to the Sword Immortal Yeo Dong-bin by his mentor, the immortal Hwaryong Zhenren. Its opening form was now deeply etched into his consciousness.

‘I see.’

The Heavenly Escape Sword Art belonged to realms far beyond the mortal world. It had to be that way. Celestial energy was a power restricted solely to those who had surpassed mortal limitations. It was a sword style built upon a righteous force, perfectly synchronized with the natural order and reason.

‘Celestial energy… is a force humanity was never meant to hold. Then why me?’

Why bestow such a thing upon an ordinary human like him? Of course, after turning back the clock, he was no longer entirely ordinary. Even so, a clear purpose must have existed for granting a power forbidden to mortals.

‘Blood-Eye branded me the Archfoe. That alone fails to explain everything.’

He understood being named the Archfoe simply for harboring celestial energy. Did that imply other humans had wielded celestial energy in the past? Perhaps the Sword King? Too few clues remained.

‘Whatever. It matters little. The voice told me to live as I please, so that is precisely what I shall do.’

Fate and grandiose schemes held no appeal for him. What he yearned for above all else right now was simple:

‘Blood-Eye, you wretched bastard, you are dead.’

As his thoughts drifted away, the state of selflessness returned. The endless sky stretched out wide, and Baek Yang-hui’s heart began executing an ethereal sword dance.

☑ SKILL ACTIVATED: Heavenly Escape Sword Art, First Form: Heaven Press.

Because it belonged to the realm above mortals, no standard comparison could capture it, but if one had to be made, Heaven Press resembled a devastating downward stroke. One might say it carried the crushing weight of the heavens bearing down upon all creation.

The sword dance pressed onward.

SKILL ACTIVATED: Heaven-Covering 108 Swords, First Form: Shooting Feather Piercing Rock.
SKILL ACTIVATED: Heaven-Covering 108 Swords, Sixth Form: Wind Swift Eagle Return.

The blade in his grip surged with the essence of the Heaven-Covering style. From the opening movement, Shooting Feather Piercing Rock, all the way to the eighth movement, Wind Swift Eagle Return, every form flowed together into a continuous, unbroken sword dance. The reimagined Heaven-Covering 108 Swords—from start to finish—imprinted itself afresh across his mind and physical form.

‘That was it. Despite the lessons of my past life, the reason I failed to reach the Peak Realm until now was right here.’

Ascending to the Peak Realm required transmuting mind-born seed energy and intent-born superior energy into sword-born superior energy. Another fundamental requirement for condensing formless energy into a tangible state was the total harmonization of mind, technique, and body. Here, mind represented the core of the cultivation method—inner energy itself. Technique stood for the martial insights embedded within the physique. Finally, body referred to the physical flesh that housed the self and ego.

‘I previously assumed that tampering with time had altered too much, blocking the unity of mind, technique, and body. But I was mistaken.’

Or rather, that belief was only partially correct. At the same time, it was fundamentally wrong.

‘Celestial energy. The true obstacle was that I had subconsciously kept it separate.’

Celestial energy felt too foreign to be categorized as standard inner energy. Although forced applications could mimic inner energy, it remained a concentrated essence of nature rather than authentic inner power. Achieving the harmony of mind, technique, and body required both mind and technique to find complete alignment within the self. Until now, the intrusion of celestial energy had disrupted that balance.

‘If that is all, I simply need to accept celestial energy as an intrinsic part of myself.’

This was the profound realization accompanying a true awakening. Substantial changes followed.

Mind: The celestial core resting within his dantian had dissolved. Harmonious Heaven Energy and celestial energy had truly become one.
Technique: He had mastered the Sword Immortal’s Heavenly Escape Sword. Learning to channel celestial energy allowed his techniques to evolve into something entirely new.
Body: His flesh had been tempered since childhood by the might of celestial energy. Now, at just fifteen years of age, his body served as the ultimate vessel.

“Ah.”

The sky dissolved from view, and the sensation of floating faded away. Below him, Blood-Eye thrashed wildly with his hands, while A-du, soaked in blood, clung desperately to Blood-Eye’s frame.

Kwabang! Kwabang! Kwabang!

“No…! You won’t… go…!”

“You’re tougher than steel wire! Just break already!”

A-du looked little more than a mangled corpse. Yet, to fulfill Baek Yang-hui’s request, he had hurled himself into the meat grinder, shattering piece by piece. His neck, pierced by sharp claws, was already half-severed. Had he not trained in the Reverse Muscle Eternal Youth Scripture during his days as a Shaolin monk, death would have claimed him long ago.

“A-du. Fall back.”

“Yang-hui…”

A-du lacked the strength to retreat. Recognizing that his duty was complete, his remaining energy vanished, and he collapsed. Fortunately, Blood-Eye ignored him, stepping past the fallen monk to stride toward Baek Yang-hui.

“Archfoe. The time has come to finish this.”

Those arrogant words brought a cold smirk to Baek Yang-hui’s lips.

“You truly believe you can kill me and secure your sacred relic?”

“Indeed.”

“You think so?”

Blood-Eye’s expression twisted, as though questioning whether terror had driven Baek Yang-hui out of his mind.

“Archfoe. I had hoped you would put up a fight until the end, but if madness has claimed you, I shall personally purge it using the Blood Soul Extraction Technique.”

“Have no fear. My mind is clearer than ever.”

Before he realized it, eight iron orbs rested in Baek Yang-hui’s palms.

“You are right about one thing. Defeating you alone is impossible. At least, not with my previous level of power.”

“Ho. So your senses have returned.”

He tossed the iron orbs into the air and caught them smoothly. His initial plan had involved consuming all the spirit pills hidden inside, then forcing open the barrier to the Peak Realm through a massive surge of inner power. It would have offered only a slight edge, but no other options remained until he could claim the hidden caches left behind by the Sword King.

Chakak! Chakak! Chakak! Chakak!
Chakak! Chakak! Chakak! Chakak!

Eight rice-grain-sized spirit pills emerged from the interior of the orbs. Compared to the ones he had ingested years ago, these were vastly smaller and contained meager amounts of celestial energy.

‘They must have lost their potency from being sealed inside the Blood Sect’s relic for so long.’

Even so, eight pills were better than none. He tossed the lot into his mouth and swallowed them down.

“A question for you. What did you witness inside the Absolute Array?”

“Countless fools begging for their lives.”

“Did you spare any of them?”

A chuckle slipped past his lips. That response captured the exact mindset of the Blood Sect—utterly divorced from any normal human reasoning.

“Had you spared them, you could have crossed without wasting your energy.”

“How could a body blessed with such glory ever yield to the pleas of ignorant, deluded wretches?”

“Keep telling yourself that.”

Such arrogance would cost him his head. Under normal circumstances, watching an enemy swallow something suspicious warranted an immediate strike. Engaging in idle conversation?

‘You deserve death for that alone.’

Abandoning his own sword—which remained embedded in Blood-Eye and irretrievable—Baek Yang-hui reached out and grabbed the Blood Sect’s sealed relic instead.

‘Hm? It certainly radiates enough demonic filth to justify a seal.’

Channeling a rich surge of celestial energy, he wrapped his hand in it as though donning a gauntlet.

“You wretched filth! What do you think you are touching?!”

“Some madman’s sacred relic.”

“Let go of it immediately!”

A violent crimson light flared within Blood-Eye’s eyes. His body shot forward toward Baek Yang-hui faster than a loosed arrow.

Yet.

Baek Yang-hui faced the ten razor-sharp claw strikes aimed at his entire body without flinching, his lips still curved in a smirk.

Bwooooong!
Kakagang! Kakagang! Kakagang! Kakagang!

Things were different now. Rather than being deflected by the sheer force as before—though celestial energy had prevented his limbs from being severed—Baek Yang-hui stood his ground, blocking and parrying every incoming assault.

“Wretch! What cheap trick did you pull?!”

“Thanks to you for giving me the time, kid.”

Baek Yang-hui’s sword rang out with a sharper, more ferocious tone.

Bwooooong!

The sequence began with Bee Wing Hum. The Bee Wing Realm served as proof that the Heaven-Covering 108 Swords had reached the third stage—a state where the blade hummed only when every single form could be executed within a single breath, serving as the ultimate symbol of speed.

“Blood-Eye.”

“Hm? How do you know my moniker, wretch?”

“I happen to excel at reading minds.”

Blood-Eye scowled, rejecting the claim outright.

“Stop spouting nonsense. The truth, now. Where did you hear that name?”

“To be honest, I turned back time. I heard it while tearing your throat out in my past life.”

“Enough. Just die here. I will extract the answers from your corpse myself.”

Choosing not to believe the truth once again, eh?

“Regardless, listen closely, punk.”

“Shut your trap.”

Clearly lacking any intent to listen. Fine, talking to himself would suffice.

Kakagagang!

He deflected the incoming claw energy once more and continued.

“Master the speed required to unleash nine forms of the Six Harmonies in a single breath, and you will hear the buzzing of bee wings.”

That was why it earned the name the Bee Wing Realm.

Bwooooong!

The blade continued to vibrate. The tone of the sword’s cry began to shift subtly. At the same time, a brilliant white sword energy sprouted from the tip.

The moment had arrived.

“Now, imagine reaching the Peak Realm and manifesting sword-born superior energy. What happens when the blade and that energy resonate as one?”

The sword answered for him.

Kiaaaa!

Fifty-four forms completed in half a breath. A single stance, a single sword stroke encompassing all 108 forms. Vibrating speed. A sword cry resembling the screech of an eagle.

“Sounds just like an eagle crying, doesn’t it?”

Until moments earlier, Baek Yang-hui’s Heaven-Covering 108 Swords had remained stalled at the eighth stage. But now, his blade unleashed the Open Eagle Roar—the hallmark of the Eagle Roar Realm and undeniable proof of profound mastery over the Heaven-Covering 108 Swords.

He infused the strike with the principle of resonance as well.

Kiaaaaaa-!

“Kuhuk!”

Blood-Eye instinctively covered his ears. The energy wave riding the sound, laced heavily with celestial energy, battered his spiritual core.

“Whew. Watching you strut around as if you could lop off my head anytime after I hit the Peak was driving me crazy. I thought I might burst a blood vessel from sheer frustration.”

“You dare speak to this master in such a tone?”

“Who else is here to talk to, punk? Should I direct this at the collapsed A-du over there?”

Moments ago, he was merely a first-rate master. But now, Baek Yang-hui felt entirely confident in his ability to stand against any expert of the Peak Realm, regardless of who they were. Even a century-old monster of the Blood Sect.

‘Still merely a mortal who failed to touch Super Peak despite his advanced age.’

Well, in his previous life, the man had reached Super Peak. But things were different now.

“An insignificant mortal stepping far beyond his station—it is time you paid for this with your life!”

Grinning broadly, Baek Yang-hui propelled himself forward amidst surging waves of sword energy and the echoing cries of eagles resounding through the air.

“Die, you old bastard!”