Yeon-woos eyes widened, and the Monkey Kings exuviae burst into laughter.Hahaha, little kid. You dont have to be that wide-eyed with surprise.

Monkey King

Well, I guess I am worthy of respect. I am pretty great

Eight Extremes of Sword Thunder I understand that having to come up with novel names for skills is difficult, but

The Monkey Kings exuviae was speechless.

All you did was add Eight Extremes to Sword Thunder!

Whack! While still maintaining his smile, the Monkey Kings exuviae gently waved his fist. A destructive shockwave barely missed Yeon-woo.If you die here from a crushed skull, you do know that no one will ever find out, right?

Now that I think about it, I believe you have an amazing talent for names. Yeon-woo did an about-face and brazenly replied without a single change of expression.

The Monkey Kings exuviae frowned as if he did not approve of Yeon-woos sudden flip flop. In any case, it seems like youre only getting more shameless. Honestly, I dont want to be criticized by someone who names his mythical beasts Chirpy or Growl.

Hmm? When did I ever do that?

The Monkey King exuviaes face became slightly twisted. Do you know how many times I heard your Mythical Beasts complain No, lets forget it.

Yeon-woo looked thoroughly confused. The Monkey Kings exuviae started to feel disgusted by Yeon-woos aloof attitude. Anyway, my true body created Heavenly Bracket to combine dozens of martial arts, magic spells, and other skills through the principle of Five Elements or Wu Xing. The Monkey Kings exuviae continued to speak. However, since youve based your martial foundation and training on the Eight Trigrams, its best to adjust Eight Extremes of Sword Thunder to the path youre on.

The three stages of heaven, earth, and being were derived from the duality of yin and yang, leading to the classical elements, then the five elements. From there, the six pairs of yin and yang arose, leading to the seven stars and eight trigrams. Then, the perfection of the nine expedient means developed into the ten paramitas. The inevitable return of all worldly affairs back to the duality of yin and yang was a topic that Yeon-woo had listened to the Martial King speak about endlessly.

The Five Elements and the Eight Trigrams are branches of study created to discuss and understand the laws of the world. However, the content and details of these branches of study are bound to change. Thats probably why youve faced so many ups and downs in developing Sword Thunder. For example, a difference in interpretation or a waste of energy efficiency may have arisen without you even realizing it.

Yeon-woo nodded his head firmly. He knew that he had yet to completely understand Sword Thunder or Meteor Sword Art. All he knew was that he was progressing, but he understood little else about his development. Yeon-woo recognized that he lacked the experience and ability to master Meteor Sword Art, and he couldnt come to a satisfactory solution with the Yin sword.

However, the confusion that you feel right now will disappear once you master the Eight Extremes of Sword Thunder.

I see. All right. Yeonwoo nodded. He could feel the enthusiasm of the Monkey Kings exuviae to assist him. Yeon-woo was also surprised that the Summer Queen had helped the Monkey Kings exuviae to perfect the Eight Extremes of Sword Thunder. Then, what should I do now?

There are two methods: intensive or comprehensive. Which method would you like to try?

Since I dont have much time, Ill try the intensive method.

Good. Just because youll be learning quickly and intensively doesnt mean youll learn less. Dont worry about the thoroughness of the instruction.

For a moment, Yeon-woo felt that the Monkey Kings exuviae was laughing evilly. Yeon-woo was about to change his choice to the comprehensive method, but Sss! Bam!

Ugh! The Monkey King exuviaes elbow had already landed in Yeon-woos stomach. Without a chance to even take a breath, Yeon-woo was sent flying, feeling a tremendous shock that he hadnt felt in a long time.

To start, lets soften you up a little.

W-wait! Yeonwoo wanted to shout out.

Bam! Bam! Bam! As if he had no time to listen to Yeon-woos words, the Monkey Kings exuviae raged like a storm and began to give Yeon-woo a beatdown.

***

Damn it! Are all beings with eccentric natures like this! Yeon-woo recalled how the Martial King had beaten him to a pulp under the pretext that it was the only way he could gauge Yeon-woos skills. Why was everyone so fond of tormenting him? It was a constant source of frustration and anger to Yeon-woo

Yeon-woo thought that he would really get in trouble if things continued like this, so he used Blink to move as far away from the Monkey Kings exuviae as possible.

Oh-ho. When his clenched fist swung through empty air, the Monkey Kings exuviae exclaimed.

And around that time

[6th-step Dragon Body awakening]

[All powers have been released]

Yeon-woo immediately raised his powers to their maximum while he was still a distance away from the Monkey Kings exuviae. At the same time, the Monkey Kings exuviae folded space and quickly appeared in front of Yeon-woo, swinging his fist down.

Rumble! A dark-red lightning bolt erupted from his fist, tearing the surrounding area into pieces.It was definitely Sword Thunder!However, it was different from the Sword Thunder that Yeon-woo was used to.This Sword Thunder was hotter than the one Yeon-woo used, as though its yang energy had been pushed to its maximum.

<Heaven Thunder>

Not wanting to lose, Yeon-woo took the same sword stance as the Monkey Kings exuviae and quickly raised his hand up to meet the incoming blow. His Sword Thunder sparked from the tip of his fingers as it collided with the Monkey King exuviaes fist.

Bam! Bam! Bam! Rumble! As one Sword Thunder collided against the other, dozens of large and small chained explosions successively shook Yeon-woos Illusory World. The two exchanged attacks at an incredible speed, and an ordinary player would find it impossible to keep up. Each attack was powerful enough to rip limbs off just from proximity alone. Since this was his Illusory World, Yeon-woo risked damaging his soul, which would impact his overall abilities.

However, the Monkey Kings exuviae did not seem to care about this at all, so Yeon-woo had no choice but to meet the incoming attacks head-on. All the while, Yeon-woo thought one thing: Hes strong. The Monkey Kings exuviae was far more powerful than he had expected.

Although Yeon-woo had already guessed the power level of the Monkey Kings exuviae after the Crawling Chaos was subjugated, now that he was confronting the exuviaes blows directly, Yeon-woo finally understood just how powerful the Monkey Kings exuviae truly was. Perhaps the exuviae could bring out the original Monkey Kings powers since they were in an Illusory World.

This is the true power of the Monkey King!

[Draconic Divine Eyes]

[Fiery Golden Eyes]

[Black Gubitara - Philosophers Eyes]

Yeon-woo opened his eyes wide and tried to anticipate the path of his opponents attack, but his opponent did not show any gaps. As Yeon-woos power level had risen, his brains computational speed had grown faster than ever, allowing him to observe many details. However, all his observations and efforts were all in vain as the Monkey Kings exuviae made his next move. Instead of smashing Yeon-woo, the Monkey Kings exuviae brought his left fist towards his body and began gathering power.

<Swamp Thunder>

Sword Thunder, which had spread in all directions from their constant clashes, was suddenly sucked into the Monkey King exuviaes fist, which compressed Sword Thunder tightly before making it explode out.

Did his power increase? Just before the Monkey Kings exuviae swung his fist, Yeon-woo instinctively felt a sense of danger and leaned back. Luckily, he managed to avoid the strike, but he finally understood something important.

The Monkey Kings exuviae was using the same Sword Thunder as he was, but the exuviaes power was much stronger. It managed to shatter more than half of the small magic shields and barriers that Yeon-woo always used to protect himself. Although Yeon-woo did not have time to do the exact calculations, he could tell that the exuviaes Sword Thunder power seemed to have doubled.

However, as if he were just getting started, the Monkey Kings exuviae quickly transitioned into a series of consecutive strikes. Each time the Monkey Kings exuviae attacked, Sword Thunders destructiveness increased. Three strikes, four strikesthen five strikes.

Whenever the Monkey Kings exuviae attacked with different Sword Thunder strikesFire Thunder, Lightning Thunder, and Wind ThunderYeon-woo found himself powerless against them, and his feeling of helplessness deepened. All the magic shields and barriers that he used to protect himself collapsed. Furthermore, his own Sword Thunder had no effect. In fact, Yeon-woos Sword Thunder was absorbed by the Monkey Kings exuviae, who used it to increase his power.

As the exuviae revealed the Eight Extremes of Sword Thunder one by one, the power level of the attacks doubled. By the time it reached Wind Thunder, the fifth of the Eight Extremes, its attack power was already thirty-two times that of the first strike. Considering that most gods were already defenseless against just one Sword Thunder strike, the combined destructive power of the three was unbelievable.

Thinking that he had to do something, Yeon-woo drew as much magic power as he could muster and released it all at once. However, even that was useless in the face of his opponents overwhelming destructive power. Even the abyss below them shook with the impact. I have to think of a way to counteract his attacks.

<Time Difference>

<Extrasensory Perception>

Yeon-woo tried to figure out the structure of the Eight Extremes of Sword Thunder. However, when he opened his eyes and looked around, all he could see was light and heat. Even with his Draconic Divine Eyes and Fiery Golden Eyes, he could not peer into the essence of his opponents strikes.

Suddenly, Yeon-woo had a thought that the power of his opponents strikes might have something to do with Consciousness or Illusory Change. The main reason for this battle was so that the Monkey Kings exuviae could teach Yeon-woo the principles of the Eight Extremes of Sword Thunder through the recognition of Illusory Change! But how? Can I infuse Sword Thunder with Consciousness? What do I do after that?

The Monkey Kings exuviae had provided no instructions nor hints about the skill, which meant that Yeon-woo had to learn it the hard waythrough direct confrontation. However, he couldnt just stay still, so Yeon-woo exerted his Consciousness and raised his Sword Thunder once again.

Yeon-woos Sword Thunder connected the sky to the earth, soaring high to block the incoming storm of light. Compared to the exuviaes explosive strike, Yeon-woos Sword Thunder seemed insignificant and puny. At that moment, Yeon-woo instinctively realized what he had to do. He needed to change his Illusory World through Illusory Change. The Monkey Kings exuviae had previously mentioned that Illusory Change was different from creating a holy territory, after all.

Yeon-woo thought, Would it work if I combined the two concepts together? Lets try it. He had no time to think of any other approach as the storm of light was seconds from smacking him. As Yeonwoo supported the core of his Sword Thunder with a maximum output of Consciousness, he also elongated the Sword Thunders shadow and wound it around Sword Thunder. In this way, he managed to compress the chaotic Sword Thunder with his shadows.

With Yeon-woos Consciousness inside the Sword Thunder and his shadows wrapped around its exterior, Sword Thunders composition grew more solid. Yeon-woo felt a strong sense that his Sword Thunder and his Consciousness were connected as one.

<Illusory Change>

The nature of his Sword Thunder changed when Yeon-woo added an attribute. If his first Sword Thunder strike contained Heaven Thunder, the first of the Eight Extremes of Sword Thunder, then this second Sword Thunder strike contained the presence of Swamp Thunder. This made Yeon-woos world go topsy-turvy. He felt as if his vision had turned inwards, and he was forcefully pulling something hidden deep within him. Additionally, by forcing something out into reality, Yeon-woo felt as if he were showing his will to the physical world. He felt as though his soul were being sucked into his Sword Thunder.

His Sword Thunder chaotically wavered as if it would break down at any moment, but it showed an unimaginable synergistic and powerful effect. Crackle! Fizzle! Rumble! Yeon-woo gritted his teeth and raised the newly formed Sword Thunder up.

Boom! The Monkey King exuviaes storm of light clashed with Yeon-woos Sword Thunder, making the surroundings quake. Yeon-woo instantly sensed his imminent defeat. The Monkey Kings exuviae could multiply his power thirty-two times, but Yeon-woo could only manage double. However, this development made Yeon-woo feel as if he had broken through the barrier that had blocked him for so long. His mind felt refreshed and rejuvenated.

The storm of light spread and almost overwhelmed the entire Illusory World.

Bam! Although it seemed on the verge of swallowing up the Illusory World and abyss, the exuviaes Sword Thunder suddenly stopped its rampage and completely disappeared, as if it had never existed.

Yeon-woo stood still for a long time as if possessed by something. Then, as he slowly lowered his gaze, he saw his trembling hands. Even though his mind felt refresheddid his instincts feel fear in the face of that powerful force? If the Wind Thunder had struck him...he pondered what would have happened.

The Eight Extremes of Sword Thunder is completely different from the eight individual movements or Ways. Each time one moves from one Way to the next, a new attribute is added that multiplies the power. The Monkey Kings exuviae explained to Yeon-woo with a confident attitude, as though he were sharing a hard-won and treasured toy with a friend. Its a force that is designed simply to destroy. The Monkey Kings exuviae looked tired and worn out. But, as you can see, its something you can use too often. It consumes a lot of power and Consciousness.

Sss! The exuviaes color faded so much that Yeon-woo would not have been surprised if the Monkey Kings exuviae fainted. Since the Monkey Kings exuviae was utilizing a spirit body that did not possess any magic power, a powerful technique like this would consume his spiritual power.

For now, this is the extent of what I can show you. I dont think Ill be able to retain my Consciousness if I show you the sixth and seventh Way. As for the eighth Way, Im not even sure if my original body can do it.

Yeon-woo, who had only just learned the second way, nodded. Furthermore, Yeon-woo had no idea what the dangerous eighth way would look like.

Still, it seems like youve figured out how to use it, so lets continue until you get used to it. The Monkey Kings exuviae clenched his fist tightly. He seemed to be expecting a lot of fun in the near future. Sss!

W-wait, stop Damn it! Yeon-woo spread his Sky Wings once more.