Chapter 497 – In This World and Beyond, Only Moving Forward (1)

Torn black robes and black hair fluttered roughly in the fierce wind. Between the scattering hair, deeply sunken black pupils showed. At that perfectly stilled gaze reflecting not even a fragment of emotion, everyone held their breath.

Among all martial artists existing under heaven, there was only one with such intense characteristics.

Dam Ho.

He had appeared on Mount Zhongnan.

The wind that had been blowing so fiercely until just now suddenly calmed as if by magic.

As if even the wind was cowering in fear and holding its breath before Dam Ho.

At his too-intense entrance, Jong Ri-yeon couldn't even speak to him.

Dam Ho's gaze swept over Zhongnan Sect.

He saw his master Taoist Hyeon-so stuck pathetically in a wall. He saw Bang Jin-bo barely enduring pain having become a blood person.

Cho Yeon-woon, Geom Yul-cheon, and Eum Yu-kyung were all bleeding with wounds. The blood they shed was dyeing Mount Zhongnan even redder.

"Lord… !"

Gi San-wol, who'd been unconscious with head dropped for a while, barely came to his senses at Dam Ho's appearance.

He said with difficulty.

"He… is trying to open the Six Paths, my lord."

"…"

Instantly Dam Ho's gaze sank even deeper.

Gi San-wol squeezed out his energy and shouted.

"You must stop it. If the Six Paths open, this world will turn into hell."

With those words, Gi San-wol fainted again.

Dam Ho's gaze turned toward Cheok Gwan-hyeol spouting blood mist on the altar. The resonance sound grew louder, and cracks were gradually forming in midair.

Dam Ho knew well what phenomenon that was. Because he'd already experienced it once.

'Avici Hell.'

Dam Ho's dark gaze turned toward Ho Cheon-myeong.

The moment their gazes met, a bright smile rose on Ho Cheon-myeong's face.

"You've come, Fist Demon!"

"Ho Cheon-myeong!"

"Finally I see you. I've been waiting."

"You'll regret it."

"What do you mean?"

"Waiting for me."

"Hehe! As arrogant as ever. You have qualification enough for that, so it's fine. Because you're different from them."

Ho Cheon-myeong's gaze turned toward Cho Yeon-woon and Geom Yul-cheon sprawled on the ground. Receiving his gaze, Cho Yeon-woon and Geom Yul-cheon made humiliated expressions. But they couldn't make excuses. Because what Ho Cheon-myeong said was true.

Both were absolute masters representing Orthodox and Demon, but had been mercilessly defeated by Ho Cheon-myeong. The difference in level was too great from the start. Ho Cheon-myeong was never someone they could oppose.

'Friend! I'm counting on you.'

'Can he really handle it? That one…'

Now the only one they believed in was Dam Ho alone. The martial world's fate rested on his shoulders.

At that moment, Dam Ho spoke.

"You're trying to open the Six Paths?"

"That's right."

"…"

"You'll understand me. Won't you?"

"…"

Dam Ho said nothing, but his intent was conveyed to Ho Cheon-myeong.

"I knew it. I knew you'd understand me. You're the same kind as me after all."

Ho Cheon-myeong smiled bitterly.

At that moment, the same question arose in everyone's minds.

'What exactly are the Six Paths?'

Those who hadn't experienced Avici Hell like Dam Ho couldn't know the Six Paths' true meaning.

People commonly call it the Six Paths of Transmigration. It was Buddhist thought that humans endlessly transmigrate through six worlds, heaven realm, human realm, asura, animal, hungry ghost, and hell, according to karma accumulated in life. But it didn't seem Ho Cheon-myeong would mention the Six Paths in such simple meaning.

Ho Cheon-myeong continued as if resolving everyone's doubt.

"During the First Orthodox-Demon War, I faced a huge wall. Though I'd bravely advanced forward and smashed countless walls blocking my way, the wall blocking me then was too large and thick to do anything about."

People at the time grouped Ho Cheon-myeong with the Four Divine Emperors and treated them as equals. But Ho Cheon-myeong's martial arts then far surpassed the other Four Divine Emperors. He just didn't reveal that fact outwardly.

Ho Cheon-myeong valued personal achievement more than worldly fame. Even when other Four Divine Emperors were raising fame through martial world journeys, he alone immersed only in martial arts.

Though he smashed countless walls, he always had unresolved thirst. Unable to overcome thirst, he coveted other schools' martial arts. Hoping to obtain a clue to surpass the wall.

He mastered not only Heavenly Evil Cult's techniques but countless martial arts. He gained enlightenment countless times and broadened his vessel. But his vessel had reached its limit. Others said he'd already transcended human realm, but Ho Cheon-myeong couldn't be satisfied.

Then the Orthodox-Demon War broke out, and Ho Cheon-myeong had no choice but temporarily bury personal achievement desire and participate.

Looking back now, he was in extremely precarious situation like a vessel about to break. In such situation, he led a suicide squad to raid the Demon Cult's main base and fought a decisive battle with the Demon Cult's Cult Leader.

It was an evenly matched fight.

Even for Ho Cheon-myeong who inwardly claimed to be the world's best, it wasn't an easy fight. Cheok Gwan-hyeol's father was that strong.

Opportunity came unexpectedly. Fierce bloody battle with an opponent equal to himself collapsed the wall blocking him until then and expanded his soul's vessel.

Thus enlightenment came suddenly, and Ho Cheon-myeong realized the Time-Space Sword.

He embraced a mind sword that could cut time and space.

He brought down Cheok Gwan-hyeol's father with the Time-Space Sword. The Demon Cult Leader who seemed like he'd never fall collapsed with chest split.

Ho Cheon-myeong's Time-Space Sword didn't just split Cheok Gwan-hyeol's chest. It wounded time-space itself.

Then Ho Cheon-myeong saw it.

That another world existed beyond the wall of time-space.

Another world clearly existed, like the Six Paths only dead people could go to.

People were there too. And beings that weren't people also existed.

What mattered was that a world beyond this one existed, and living things were there too. Ho Cheon-myeong called that place the Six Paths. Because he saw six different worlds.

Unfortunately, the wound in space opened by Time-Space Sword healed quickly.

Then Ho Cheon-myeong realized.

That his sword could split space and let him see the world beyond. But unfortunately, he himself couldn't cross over.

The law of causality comprising the world was too solid and dense, refusing passage for beings with great power like himself to another world.

Even Ho Cheon-myeong who'd reached Time-Space Sword realm couldn't freely cross to another world.

Disparity existed in human souls. The larger one's status like Ho Cheon-myeong, the more they'd be caught in Heaven's sparse net and couldn't pass through. Conversely, those whose soul status wasn't large like Gi San-wol could pass through the small mesh between the net.

So Ho Cheon-myeong envied Gi San-wol. Because Gi San-wol had fragmentarily experienced that place Ho Cheon-myeong could only see but ultimately couldn't pass through.

The fragmentary information about that world heard from Gi San-wol further stimulated his desire to cross the wall of causality.

The moment after killing Cheok Gwan-hyeol's father and learning through Time-Space Sword that a world different from the martial world existed, he gained inspiration.

He found a way to pierce Heaven's net.

"When the world falls into chaos, Heaven's energy also shakes. When Heaven's energy shakes, the law maintaining this world also shakes, and eventually even the solid net-like wall of time-space weakens. So I let the Demon Cult Leader's son live. Because I knew his rage would ultimately burn this world."

Everything flowed as he expected.

Cheok Gwan-hyeol became the new Demon Cult Leader and grew steadily, rebuilt the Demon Cult. And plunged the world into chaos. What Ho Cheon-myeong did was merely instigate their collision between Demon Cult and Central Plains and fan conflicts.

That alone was enough.

Incomparably more people sacrificed than in the First Orthodox-Demon War, and consequently the law and walls dominating this world weakened. Especially performing rites after destroying Shaolin Temple and Murim Alliance was decisive.

"But that alone is insufficient. Just like during the First Orthodox-Demon War. To open the wall crossing to that world requires a great sacrifice. A soul bearing karma great enough to collapse all causality at once."

"Is that Cheok Gwan-hyeol?"

"That's right. That's why I let him live. For today. Becoming Demon Cult Leader, he accumulated heavy karma that can never be forgiven. Using his blood as medium, the door to the Six Paths will open, and I'll cross over there."

Joy's light already rose on Ho Cheon-myeong's face. He'd become self-inspired by revealing the secret he'd hidden so tightly until now.

Having heard all explanation, Taoist Hyeon-so asked.

"What exactly exists in that place, the Six Paths, that you'd bring the martial world to destruction?"

"That's what I'm curious about too. What I saw was only an extremely small part."

"I'll pray it's a place worth that much."

"Thank you."

Though Taoist Hyeon-so spoke sarcastically, Ho Cheon-myeong accepted it casually.

Woooong!

Even at that moment, the crack above the altar was growing larger. The moment the crack reached its peak, he'd cross to the Six Paths he'd dreamed of so much.

"Consider it an honor. Being invited to the historic moment when a new world opens."

"You're thoroughly insane. Dyeing all of Central Plains in blood for such a reason. Just to go to the Six Paths. Don't you feel sorry for the countless people who died because of you?"

"I go because I can. There's no reason for guilt to intrude."

Ho Cheon-myeong's gaze turned toward Dam Ho.

"Isn't that right? I think you can understand me. You too glimpsed the Six Paths briefly, didn't you? A world different from here."

"…"

Dam Ho's eyebrows twitched. Then Ho Cheon-myeong smiled.

"That's why I've let you live until now. Because I thought you who glimpsed the Six Paths could understand me."

"Are you done talking?"

"What?"

"I can't listen to an old dog barking any longer."

Instantly Ho Cheon-myeong's face hardened for the first time.

The relaxed expression until now completely disappeared, replaced by a face frightening enough to give goosebumps just looking.

Dam Ho stared at such Ho Cheon-myeong's face.

That was Ho Cheon-myeong's real face. The face smiling pleasantly until just now was only a mask.

"You clearly saw the Six Paths yet say such things. Were you also only a common person? How disappointing, Fist Demon!"

"What about the Six Paths?"

"What?"

"What does it matter that another world exists?"

Dam Ho's voice sank deeply.

Certainly in Avici Hell, he saw the Six Paths. The doors leading to six different worlds. No one could know whether that place would lead to hell, or truly lead to worlds like hungry ghosts and animal realm.

Certainly it was an interesting world. It was true curiosity arose. But that didn't mean he wanted to cross there while driving countless people into war.

Heaven deliberately made such solid net of causality so powerful beings like Ho Cheon-myeong couldn't freely cross, surely for good reason. He didn't want to forcibly break such law of causality.

He was born with fate carrying blood. Even crossing to that world, that fact would never change.

Fighting to the point of nausea was enough in this world.

That's what Dam Ho thought.

His final opponent was precisely Ho Cheon-myeong.

"Ha!"

Ho Cheon-myeong breathed out softly. Because the moment he saw Dam Ho's dark two eyes, he instinctively knew no words would work.

"In the end, even you don't understand me."

He looked at Dam Ho with truly disappointed eyes.

He suddenly felt lonely.

The fact that no one existed at the same height as where he stood made him desolate and lonely. But feeling loneliness was also only momentary. Because the emotion of rage immediately replaced it.

It was rage toward Dam Ho, and rage toward this world that made him desolate.

At that moment, Dam Ho started walking toward him.

Stamping right foot, dragging left foot.

It was Dam Ho's characteristic off-beat walk that unsettled people's hearts. Until now, countless martial artists had been overwhelmed by such Dam Ho's walk and couldn't display their ability.

But Ho Cheon-myeong was different. Rather than cowering in fear, he now looked at Dam Ho with contemptuous eyes.

"You're certainly strong. You reached the limit martial artists can climb. But you couldn't cross the final wall. With those legs, it would be impossible. How unfortunate. If you'd crossed the wall and gained vision to see from the same height as me, you'd surely have understood me."

Pat!

Instantly Dam Ho kicked the earth. Deploying Charging Step.

Like a ramming device breaking castles, Dam Ho surged at fearsome speed. But Ho Cheon-myeong avoided such Dam Ho's attack easily. He retreated back as much as Dam Ho advanced.

Retreating backward speed had to be slower than advancing forward speed. Because it was an absolute limit that couldn't be overcome by human body structure. But Ho Cheon-myeong was smashing such people's common sense to pieces.

The distance between Ho Cheon-myeong and Dam Ho didn't narrow and stayed the same.

"You who haven't transcended human limits can't be my opponent."

Ho Cheon-myeong spoke calmly without even breathing growing rough.

Dam Ho no longer answered.

Pat!

Once again Charging Step unfolded.

Breaking through the wall of air blocking the front, he received fierce resistance. Hair shook crazily in wind pressure, and fierce two pupils glowed ominously.

It seemed like a beast rather than human charging while exploding madness. But even such Dam Ho's appearance couldn't shake Ho Cheon-myeong's heart.

"Tsk!"

Ho Cheon-myeong clicked his tongue and tried retreating back again.

That's when it happened.

Suddenly powerful attraction arose and grabbed his ankle. It was the phenomenon occurring before deploying Shattering Star Lunch.

For the first time, unusual light rose in Ho Cheon-myeong's eyes.

Though he'd heard information that attraction occurred when Dam Ho deployed Shattering Star Punch, experiencing it directly was another matter.

Grgrgr!

His feet were dragged toward Dam Ho leaving deep furrows in the earth. At that moment, Ho Cheon-myeong gave up resisting. Then Ho Cheon-myeong was helplessly drawn to Dam Ho like a fallen leaf scattering in wind.

Kwaang!

At that moment, Shattering Star Punch exploded.

Tremendous force concentrated at one point, and as aftermath fierce whirlwind swept all around.

"Kruk!"

"Mm!"

Not only Bang Jin-bo but even masters like Cho Yeon-woon staggered unable to properly open their eyes.

Only after the fierce wind scratched past could people barely open their eyes.

"Ah!"

Jong Ri-yeon watching the battlefield unconsciously let out a lament.

Because Dam Ho who'd deployed Shattering Star Punch was instead stuck in a large boulder. Ho Cheon-myeong stood aloof before Dam Ho in intact form with hands clasped behind his back.

"Aah! What is this…"

"Fist Demon fell?"

Disbelief's light rose on people's faces.

To them, Dam Ho was an impregnable fortress that would never collapse. That fortress collapsed, and their faith shattered to pieces.

Ho Cheon-myeong smiled looking at Dam Ho stuck in the boulder while bleeding.

Long-range attacks don’t work.

Troublingly, the finger wind that Great Buddha shot from long range was far more powerful than Jin Ja-gang’s Flash Severance.

Great Buddha only wiggled his fingertips, while Jin Ja-gang desperately dodged with all his might.

Whether floor, ceiling, or wall, whatever was hit by the finger wind or whatever it was got holes drilled through.

Originally, finger wind was a technique to attack vital points from afar, but with this level of power where limbs would be severed, there was no point in choosing specific acupoints to shoot at.

It was even frighteningly fast.

One and a half times faster than the Tang Family’s hidden weapon technique called Flash Severance because it resembled the speed of lightning flashing. Jin Ja-gang could barely dodge Vajra Finger only by using even Reverse Afterimage Soul Movement technique.

Bang!

Vajra Finger pierced through the middle of Jin Ja-gang’s fluttering hair strands. A round hole was drilled between the hair strands and the upper part of his ear was caught, deleting flesh as if a tooth had been pulled out.

Cut hair scattered and blood flowed from his ear.

A minor injury. However, the reason Jin Ja-gang was injured was because he had attempted an attack in the meantime.

Jin Ja-gang’s hands were spread to both sides.

Beom-bon was aiming at Jin Ja-gang’s brow with his finger when he felt the killing intent of needles flying into both his ear holes. He slightly lowered his head forward. The poison needles of Flying Thread Twelve Branches that flew in large arcs from both sides, precisely aiming at Beom-bon’s ear holes, missed.

After dodging the poison needles, Beom-bon shot Vajra Finger at Jin Ja-gang whose arms were spread. Vajra Finger pierced through Jin Ja-gang’s afterimage and struck directly down to the floor.

Jin Ja-gang appeared above Beom-bon’s head. Jin Ja-gang struck his temple with his fist.

Crack! Jin Ja-gang’s fist was like a child’s hand compared to how big Beom-bon’s head was. Jin Ja-gang grabbed Beom-bon’s head and struck his temple with his knee.

Crack crack! Crack!

An ordinary person would have their head crushed and brain shaken to death, but Beom-bon casually waved his hand above his head.

Whoosh! A palm like a pot lid flew at him. Jin Ja-gang placed his hand on the head and slid to the side, moving to Beom-bon’s back. He struck down with his elbow at the connection point between the back of the head and neck, a part Iron Head Technique didn’t reach. While falling to the ground, he kicked Beom-bon’s buttocks with both feet.

Beom-bon staggered and took a step forward. However, as if nothing had happened, he grabbed the back of his neck and moved his neck a couple of times.

Jin Ja-gang sprang up sharply as if bouncing from the elasticity of his waist and stomped on the back of Beom-bon’s knee with his foot. If the muscle in the back of the knee ruptures, one cannot stand.

Crack!

Jin Ja-gang’s toes and Iron Robe collided. Jin Ja-gang himself was pushed back by the force of his kick and staggered, unable to maintain balance.

Whoosh! Beom-bon’s palm flew to catch Jin Ja-gang. Jin Ja-gang met the palm with his own palm and retreated with the counter-elasticity.

In an instant, Beom-bon’s opposite hand was pulled backward. He could see the floorboards beneath his feet breaking with a crack.

Beom-bon leaned his upper body forward and kicked off the floor.

Crash! It was a kick so powerful the ground beneath shattered and a pit was dug. Jin Ja-gang’s eyes widened greatly. Beom-bon gathered his fingertips to make the end pointed and struck at Jin Ja-gang’s shoulder. Jin Ja-gang flipped backward and dodged Beom-bon’s hand.

Swoosh! With a fierce wind sound, Beom-bon’s hand brushed past Jin Ja-gang’s body. But that wasn’t the end, as the arm moved as if sliding and continuously pursued Jin Ja-gang.

‘Snake?’

Jin Ja-gang hastily flipped backward. Each time he flipped back and forth, Beom-bon’s hand followed like a viper flicking its tongue.

Normally he would counterattack, but he couldn’t. Beom-bon’s right hand slid left and right, continuously pursuing Jin Ja-gang. Jin Ja-gang continued flipping across the first floor tea house to the opposite wall. If pushed to the wall, he could no longer dodge. At the last moment, Jin Ja-gang struck the floor with both palms and flipped high. Then he spread both legs and hooked them on tables to the left and right.

Beom-bon’s hand barely passed under Jin Ja-gang’s crotch. Jin Ja-gang punched Beom-bon’s eyes.

Thud! It was a fist packed full of internal energy. Beom-bon’s eye socket should have been crushed and more, but instead Jin Ja-gang’s knuckle bones rang. Beom-bon bent his legs then stretched his body and rammed Jin Ja-gang with his head. Jin Ja-gang caught Beom-bon’s crown with his hands, kicked off the wall, and flipped to the opposite side.

Landing behind Beom-bon’s back and trying to strike his back with his back foot, Beom-bon instantly turned around. The motion was so fast it seemed as if eyes had popped out from the back of his head.

Jin Ja-gang felt uneasy and pulled a table beside him to block the front. Beom-bon lowered his posture then raised it and kicked Jin Ja-gang up with his knee. The thick table made of luxurious rosewood caught on Beom-bon’s knee.

Crash! In an instant the table shattered and debris shot up to the ceiling. The debris deeply embedded in the high ceiling of the first floor.

Jin Ja-gang grabbed the broken table leg and stepped back several steps. If he had just blocked with the table and endured, Jin Ja-gang would have been embedded in the ceiling like the table debris!

Beom-bon, who had raised his knee high, stood on one leg with one hand raised, and that posture was quite familiar. Beom-bon lowered his knee and with his hands up and down, lightly stepped forward.

‘Crane!’

Jin Ja-gang threw the broken table leg at Beom-bon’s face. It contained internal energy, so it would easily embed in his face and more.

Beom-bon leaned his upper body forward, bent his spread fingers to make them like hooks, and shouted loudly.

Kreeeeee!

At the same time he stepped with a kick and rushed at Jin Ja-gang as if flying. The table leg Jin Ja-gang threw hit Beom-bon’s head and futilely shattered. Beom-bon reached Jin Ja-gang at a speed unbelievable for such a large frame. Beom-bon slashed down from top to bottom with his hook-like hands, as if tearing space apart.

Jin Ja-gang pulled his shoulder back with minimal distance for a counterattack.

Slash!

Beom-bon’s fingers didn’t touch Jin Ja-gang. However, Jin Ja-gang’s upper garment was torn into five strips.

The Zhuge Family’s protection band that Jin Ja-gang had placed against his chest inside the garment was also torn. Jin Ja-gang’s bare chest was revealed between the torn protection band. Four lines of wounds were also visible on his bare chest.

Drip.

Blood slightly seeped out. Thanks to the protection band, the wounds were shallow. If it hadn’t been for the protection band prepared before the fight, Jin Ja-gang’s chest would certainly have been torn instead of the protection band.

No, it was stranger that he tore with bare fingers a protection band meant to block swords and blades!

The flower tree in the flowerpot placed behind Jin Ja-gang was torn to shreds like straw and scattered. Screech… scratch marks remained on the surface of the flowerpot and it cracked.

Crack! The flowerpot broke and water burst out.

Jin Ja-gang looked at Beom-bon’s round open pupils and hand movements and was reminded of a familiar beast.

“Tiger…”

Beom-bon bared his fangs and smiled.

***

“Shaolin Five Fists.”

Yuk Ha-seon said.

“Martial arts said to be created by observing animals like snakes and cranes, tigers, and leopards.”

Mu-gak answered.

“Arhat monks learn one of the Shaolin Five Fists when entering. Great Buddha mastered all five.”

Im Yi-eon asked.

“However, I know Shaolin Five Fists are martial arts learned to understand what differences exist between the human body and animal movements, what advantages they have, and how energy flows. With that alone, one cannot defeat first-rate family fist and leg techniques.”

Mu-gak clicked his tongue.

“You’re stupid. I told you. When Great Buddha does it, it’s no longer the entry-level Shaolin Five Fists that Arhat monks learn.”

At being called stupid, Im Yi-eon grimaced.

Tang Ha-ran asked.

“What are you saying about the Shaolin Five Fists that Great Buddha deploys?”

“Of course they become Shaolin’s strongest fist and leg techniques. Great Strength Vajra Palm, Maitreya Divine Fist, Golden Dragon Nine Seas… none compare.”

“Your meaning is…”

Mu-gak looked at Tang Ha-ran with somewhat pitying eyes and said.

“If Poison Dragon thinks Beom-bon fights ignorantly relying only on divine strength and approaches for close combat, he’ll end up in a bad situation.”

Namgung Rak said.

“That’s speaking while underestimating Poison Dragon too much. You should know better than anyone that Poison Dragon isn’t someone who would charge in simply.”

Mu-gak got angry at Namgung Rak.

“Are you disrespecting me because I got hit by Poison Dragon and was knocked out?”

“How could that be? But if you’re the world’s Demon-Exterminating Monk, you seem to have different views on Poison Dragon’s response.”

“Poison Dragon is extremely meticulous, deep in schemes, and his responses hit weak points, and his fighting is also highly unpredictable. But the opponent is bad. Hidden weapons probably won’t work on Great Buddha, and his characteristic cruelty won’t work in close combat either.”

“Poison Dragon also seems to handle weapons well…”

Namgung Rak paused briefly then asked thoughtfully.

“Do Arhat monks also learn weapon techniques?”

“Basically they learn all eighteen types of weapons. But when you think of Shaolin Temple, there’s something specific that comes to mind.”

Yuk Ha-seon said as if tossing it out.

“Staff technique?”

Everyone made an “Ah!” exclamation.

“That’s right. Shaolin Staff Technique!”

Im Yi-eon, who had been called stupid, spoke first as if to restore his pride.

“Shaolin Staff Technique is called the grand master among all staff techniques in the martial world.”

Everyone looked at Mu-gak to see if Im Yi-eon’s words were correct.

Mu-gak answered in a tone of whether he had to say the same thing again.

“Great Buddha defeated the previous generation’s great monks who used the eighteen types of weapons with just a staff, the so-called Eighteen Bronze Men, all at once. He’s the greatest master of staff technique.”

***

Crash!

Jin Ja-gang was smashed through the wall and embedded. Broken planks creaked on his back.

Before Jin Ja-gang could even complain of shock and pain, Beom-bon’s massive frame spun several times in the air. Like stepping stones, his huge feet split into several and pressed down on Jin Ja-gang. Jin Ja-gang struck the wall with both palms and escaped.

Crash crash crash! The wall where Jin Ja-gang had been embedded burst outward.

Jin Ja-gang rolled out on the floor and stabbed at Beom-bon’s crotch from below with a dagger. Beom-bon drew his legs in, stepped on the pointed blade of the dagger, and leapt into the air.

A giant leopard. However, he possessed agility not inferior to even small leopards.

Crack. Rather, Jin Ja-gang’s wrist and elbow joints holding the dagger made rough rupturing sounds pressed by Beom-bon’s weight. Jin Ja-gang frowned from the pain, and saw Beom-bon’s fingertip in his pupil. Jin Ja-gang turned his head to the side.

Bang! With a sound like lightning striking, Beom-bon’s Vajra Finger pierced Jin Ja-gang’s hair.

Jin Ja-gang rolled on the floor to create distance, then pulled out the Ladle River Divine Sword he had hidden behind a pillar. He gripped the Ladle River Divine Sword in his left hand and the paired sickle blade in his right hand.

Internal energy ceaselessly flowed in and replenished Jin Ja-gang’s depleted strength.

Beom-bon looked at that sight and nodded.

“Namgung Family’s Ladle River Divine Sword. It’s a fine item. Then this humble monk also feels inclined to do his best for once.”

Beom-bon swept a glance around, then went to the center pillar. It was a pillar thicker than a person’s torso. Beom-bon embraced the pillar.

“Hooop!”

Tendons bulged on Beom-bon’s head.

It was such an absurd action that even Jin Ja-gang thought, “No way.”

However, the pillar began to shake.

Crack, crack.

The bottom of the pillar shook and above, the ceiling shook. Dust poured down and below, the wooden floor and the foundation stone fixed in place made grating sounds and struggled.

Crackle!

Craaack… The pillar screamed as it vomited wood shavings.

The top and bottom of the pillar broke and came out grasped in Beom-bon’s hands. He didn’t pull out the pillar, he ripped out the entire pillar itself!

Because he ripped out a pillar as tall as himself whole, the ceiling beams swayed and the pavilion shook.

Beom-bon swung the ripped-out pillar left and right.

Whooom! Whoom!

Then, seemingly quite pleased, he held the pillar in one hand, tucked it under his armpit, and took a stance.

Jin Ja-gang stared blankly at Beom-bon then asked.

“That’s not really…?”

Beom-bon answered.

“That’s right. It’s Shaolin Staff Technique.”

Jin Ja-gang’s expression became subtle.

Where was that staff technique?