Myst, Might, Mayhem

Chapter 156 – Coercion (2)

“I shall face this person. Flee to the poison-wielding elder, mortal.”

Upon hearing Cheong-ryeong’s words, Mok Gyeong-un realized her intent to engage the Society Leader’s first disciple, Eldest Young Master Na Yul-ryang, in order to buy time.

Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes sharpened at this.

Her judgment was undoubtedly correct.

The gap between himself and Eldest Young Master Na Yul-ryang, who had overcome his wall and ascended to the Transformation Realm, was vast.

At present, fleeing was the only answer.

However, two issues remained.

First,

‘My left ankle.’

It seemed Cheong-ryeong had failed to notice in her haste that Na Yul-ryang had swiftly crushed Mok Gyeong-un’s left ankle, fracturing the bone.

This was no coincidence.

It was a calculated move to hinder his mobility and prevent his escape.

A person like Na Yul-ryang, so similar to Mok Gyeong-un, would not release him so lightly merely because Cheong-ryeong, or his assumed junior sister, had appeared.

Second,

‘The Poison King…’

Baek Sa-ha, the Poison King who had also reached the Transformation Realm, could likely protect Mok Gyeong-un from Na Yul-ryang.

However, Mok Gyeong-un’s thoughts did not end there.

His gaze shifted to Eldest Young Master Na Yul-ryang, who was engaged in battle with Cheong-ryeong.

If the person was truly akin to himself, this would not be the end.

‘…He will seek to kill me, by any means necessary.’

Even under the Poison King Baek Sa-ha’s protection, Na Yul-ryang would undoubtedly attempt to eliminate Mok Gyeong-un through whatever method he could devise.

He had already made up his mind to do so.

It was both instinct and conviction.

‘Troublesome.’

Just as he was finding his footing, this was a truly vexing variable.

Failure to overcome it would mean death before vengeance.

As his thoughts reached this point, Mok Gyeong-un began seeking a new solution.

‘I need more power.’

Power was necessary to protect himself from Eldest Young Master Na Yul-ryang, not anyone else.

However, this could not be achieved in a short time.

Even in the current martial arts world, only an extremely small number of innately gifted individuals could attain enlightenment, shatter their threshold, and reach the Transformation Realm.

Ascending to such a realm was not a feat that could be accomplished through talent alone.

Yet,

‘Could it work?’

A scene flashed through Mok Gyeong-un’s mind.

It was the moment when the Poison King Baek Sa-ha attained enlightenment and surpassed his threshold.

Although invisible to others, Mok Gyeong-un, who had opened his Ghost Eye, remembered what had transpired within Baek Sa-ha’s body as he broke through his threshold.

Energy had traversed three points, forming the Three Yang of essence, energy, and spirit.

The reason behind this occurrence was unknown.

However, he was confident in his ability to replicate it almost identically from memory.

‘Is it possible?’

The act of forcibly inducing the Three Yang without enlightenment.

There was no way to know if this would succeed.

Perhaps it would lead to qi deviation, endangering his life.

‘……’

Then, Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes fell upon Eldest Young Master Na Yul-ryang, who was fiercely crossing swords with Cheong-ryeong.

For now, it remained a stalemate.

However, as it was daytime, Cheong-ryeong, a vengeful spirit, was at a disadvantage.

It would not be long before the person could repel Cheong-ryeong’s sword.

Such was the extent of his extraordinary talent with the blade.

“Haa… Haa…”

Mok Gyeong-un attempted to move his left ankle.

The pain was still immense.

It would likely be difficult to even put weight on his left foot.

‘It will be challenging in a short time.’

Even with his exceptional recovery ability, a fractured bone could not heal instantaneously.

Na Yul-ryang was gradually adapting to Cheong-ryeong’s swordsmanship.

At this, Mok Gyeong-un made his decision.

‘It will be a gamble.’

Regardless, the moment he moved, it was evident that Eldest Young Master Na Yul-ryang would cease his duel with Cheong-ryeong and change course.

In that case, he had no choice but to take the risk, even if it carried a higher degree of danger.

Fortunately, his energy was composed of deathly qi, making it difficult for others to accurately detect.

Even Na Yul-ryang, who had reached the Transformation Realm, had failed to discern it properly. Thus, even if he were to channel his energy through the Three Yang here, it would be challenging for others to notice.

“Phew.”

Mok Gyeong-un, lying down, contemplated the energy within his body.

Then, recalling the Poison King Baek Sa-ha, who had shattered his threshold, he slowly began to circulate his energy, intending to forcibly break through.

‘…It must be done in reverse.’

He had nearly made a mistake in that instant.

The energy Mok Gyeong-un wielded was not the energy of life, but the energy of the deceased.

The approach had to be the opposite of the norm.

-Rumble!

With that, Mok Gyeong-un began forcibly piercing through the threshold by circulating his deathly qi through his reverse acupoints, relying on his memory.

The deathly qi gathered and spread throughout his body as it circulated through the reverse acupoints.

He perfectly recreated the phenomenon that had occurred within Baek Sa-ha’s body.

‘First, the lower danjeon.’

-Rumble!

The concentrated deathly qi passed through the essence of the lower danjeon.

Then, it converged near the chest before spreading throughout the body, forming the yin through the deathly qi in the reverse acupoints of the middle danjeon, the energy.

‘The second is also a success.’

If the supreme masters who had surpassed their thresholds were to witness Mok Gyeong-un’s current actions, they would have been unable to conceal their astonishment.

This was because it differed from the typical Three Yang Convergence.

Originally, the Three Yang Convergence, also known as the Three Yang Gathering, referred to the convergence of yang within yin, yang within yang, and yang within yin and yang, with the three yang heading towards the inner origin and returning to the heavenly palace.

However, due to the reverse acupoints, Mok Gyeong-un’s process was the opposite.

It was literally the Three Yin Convergence.

This was yin within yang, yin within yin, and yin within yin and yang.

In other words, the three yin were heading towards the inner origin, with the heavenly palace inversely returning.

‘Ugh.’

Beads of sweat formed on Mok Gyeong-un’s forehead, and faint steam escaped from his mouth.

Finally, the energy had to penetrate the top of his head, but this was proving difficult as it was a forceful attempt without enlightenment.

At that moment,

-Whoosh!

Eldest Young Master Na Yul-ryang launched his figure towards Mok Gyeong-un with lightning speed.

It was to prevent him from accomplishing whatever he was attempting.

Mok Gyeong-un, who was focusing all his attention on piercing through the spirit in order to achieve something, was unable to notice this.

However,

-Swish!

Cheong-ryeong blocked Na Yul-ryang’s path.

‘As if I would allow anyone to interfere.’

Whether forcibly forming the Three Yang of essence, energy, and spirit without enlightenment was possible or not, if Mok Gyeong-un were to be interrupted here, he would undoubtedly die.

‘In any case, that mortal brat…’

It was not audacity but sheer recklessness.

She had told him to flee while she held off this person, yet he was engaging in such a perilous challenge at this very moment.

Regardless, she had to protect that mortal…

“Do not interfere!”

-Swish swish swish swish swish!

At that instant, a dazzling trajectory resembling a meteor shower was drawn from Eldest Young Master Na Yul-ryang’s sword energy.

Cheong-ryeong’s gaze turned frigid for a fleeting moment.

This was the Heavenly Sword Meteor, one of the three secret techniques of the Heavenly Sword‘s swordsmanship.

It was a sword technique the person had created while gazing upon the falling stars in the night sky.

Although her resentment ran deep, she had no choice but to acknowledge that these three secret techniques devised by the person were truly unparalleled and could be considered supreme.

While they were called secret techniques, flawless and domineering sword techniques,

‘It’s not without weaknesses.’

Cheong-ryeong, who had deconstructed the person’s swordsmanship over a hundred years, had discovered the sole weakness in this technique.

Amidst the densely packed sword techniques that approached like a meteor shower, there was a single trajectory that could be exploited.

If she were to thrust a single sword towards that spot,

-Stab!

-Swish swish swish!

‘!?’

At that moment, Na Yul-ryang’s sword techniques abruptly changed direction, entrapping Cheong-ryeong’s single sword that had aimed for the opening.

‘A variation?’

It was an entirely unexpected sword path.

As a result, the pipe created by spiritual power was trapped within the trajectory of the strong energy and instantly disintegrated.

However, this was not the end.

-Swish swish!

‘Oh no!’

Cheong-ryeong swiftly utilized her lightness skill to evade the sword trajectories that targeted her.

Her eyes sharpened as she dodged.

She had discovered the method to break the Heavenly Sword Meteor through countless deconstructions, but it had been refined to the point of being even more formidable, far beyond her expectations.

‘…I underestimated the person.’

The person, too, had once vied for the title of the world’s greatest swordsman alongside her.

As time had passed, it was only natural for him to develop his sword techniques and compensate for their weaknesses, yet she had been too fixated on the past.

‘It was a mistake.’

Cheong-ryeong inwardly reflected on her error.

At that moment, Na Yul-ryang, who had been pressuring Cheong-ryeong with his dense sword techniques, forcefully thrust his sword energy towards her brow.

In that instant,

-Boom!

A sharp sword energy of blue hue sliced through the air.

It was the Sword Energy Blast, a technique that could directly launch condensed strong energy.

‘Oh no!’

The final strike was a Sword Energy Blast from an inescapable position.

Cheong-ryeong hastily crossed her hands and created a red blood-like barrier using spiritual power.

-Crash!

However, the power of the Sword Energy Blast, the final strike that served as the climax of the sword techniques, was so immense that her body soared through the air along with the Blood Barrier.

Without missing that very moment, Na Yul-ryang changed his direction.

And then,

“Haa!”

He unleashed another Sword Energy Blast, aiming it towards Mok Gyeong-un.

‘Where do you think you’re going!’

Cheong-ryeong, who had been launched into the air, disregarded her gaze and everything else, waving her hand.

Blood from the ground rose in the form of thorns, attempting to pierce Na Yul-ryang’s right shoulder as he tried to extend his sword.

“Hmph!”

Na Yul-ryang hurriedly twisted his body.

Thanks to that, the trajectory of the Sword Energy Blast slightly deviated from its original intention.

The blue sword energy extended in a straight line, piercing not Mok Gyeong-un’s neck, as originally intended, but right beside it.

-Boom boom boom!

As a result, the strong energy penetrated the ground, raising fragments and dust.

The power was sufficiently potent.

To this extent, the shockwave alone might have disrupted Mok Gyeong-un’s attempt to achieve his breakthrough, causing him to suffer critical injuries or even death.

‘This is not enough.’

As visibility was obscured, even with his Penetrating Eye, Na Yul-ryang, who had been unable to properly confirm the situation, launched his figure towards Mok Gyeong-un.

-Bang!

Cheong-ryeong, who had soared into the air and deflected Na Yul-ryang’s Sword Energy Blast, also propelled her figure towards Mok Gyeong-un.

He probably hadn’t finished his breakthrough yet, and everything might have been ruined by the previous Sword Energy Blast.

-Whoosh!

‘I have to stop it.’

In any case, she had already unleashed her power as a vengeful spirit.

In that case, without any further hesitation,

It was at that very moment.

-Gasp!

-Whoosh!

Suddenly, an unknown energy began to surge from within the hazy dust in all directions.

Cheong-ryeong’s eyes widened.

The energy surging from within the dust was of a distinctly different nature compared to the deathly qi that could be considered the energy of death.

‘What energy is this vicious…’

-Gasp!

Na Yul-ryang, who had been propelling his figure, abruptly came to a halt.

It was at that precise moment.

From within the dust obscuring their vision,

-Boom!

A black strong energy extended towards Na Yul-ryang’s face with tremendous force, accompanied by a circular shockwave.

Na Yul-ryang hastily blocked the black strong energy targeting his head with his blue sword energy.

-Clang clang clang clang!

Sparks of pale blue light erupted as the strong energies collided.

The clash of strong energies, almost at a stalemate, neither side yielding.

‘What in the world…’

Na Yul-ryang’s eyes sharpened.

This black strong energy exuded a brutality and ferocity he had never experienced before.

The momentum was so vicious that it disrupted the convergence of his own strong energy.

‘This won’t do.’

Forcibly clashing energies led to the loss of true energy.

Realizing it was futile, Na Yul-ryang extended one foot back, applying force to his Yongchuan acupoint, and used the technique of “Borrowing Force to Redirect” to divert the incoming strong energy to the side.

-Boom!

-Crash crash crash crash!

The black strong energy tore through the ground, shattering a wall nearly five jang in length.

From the aftermath of this strong energy, Na Yul-ryang could instinctively comprehend.

‘Ha…’

How could this be possible?

-Grip!

Strength filled Na Yul-ryang’s hand.

It was unbelievable.

The person had shattered his threshold and entered the same realm as himself.

-Swish swish swish!

Mok Gyeong-un’s figure emerged from the dissipating dust.

At the sight of his appearance, Na Yul-ryang’s expression grew even more solemn.

‘!!!!!’

It was clearly visible to his Penetrating Eye, which could penetrate through energy.

Mok Gyeong-un, with black energy materializing and surging throughout his body.

Enveloped in the exceedingly vicious black energy, his appearance was reminiscent of a demon that had ascended from hell.