Chapter 743: PAID

Childhood Friend of the ZenithWords: 2014

Tua Pacheonmu: Fourth Form—Azure Sky.

An arrogant name, claiming to create the heavens.

Considering the Fifth Form was called "Sky Breaker," it was likely Paejon had intentionally chosen these names.

To create the heavens.

And then to shatter them.

Whatever deeper meaning it carried, unlike the first three forms, which were all single-strike techniques, Azure Sky wasn’t meant for direct attacks.

If anything, it was similar to activating the body through the heat of Nine Flames Firewheel.

Tua Pacheonmu was a martial art designed to push the body through an artificial rebirth—a shortcut to transcendence.

And Azure Sky was an extension of that principle.

An artificial state of no-mind.

A fleeting moment martial artists often strive for, where unnecessary thoughts vanish, and hesitation disappears.

That was Azure Sky.

With a single motion, the mind cleared, hesitation faded, and energy flowed naturally throughout the body.

Energy moved more freely, amplifying martial techniques in the process.

It was, in essence, a physical awakening.

At least, it felt like the power doubled.

But—

‘The backlash doubles too.’

A martial art this absurdly efficient, doubling one’s power, naturally came with severe drawbacks.

The first time I used it, I’d thought, Is this technique insane?

But after experiencing it, I understood.

If used wrong, it could kill you.

Paejon had warned me the first time I succeeded—

“Only use it as a last resort. If you use it too early, you’ll die.”

“Be careful until you’re used to it.”

After trying Azure Sky, I understood why.

Tua Pacheonmu was already painfully taxing, but the backlash from Azure Sky was on another level.

The first time I followed Azure Sky with First Form, I was bedridden for three days.

All that for a single strike.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Even so—

Despite the ridiculous backlash, it was terrifyingly effective in the moment.

And that was why—

“Kugh.”

Even while coughing up blood, I felt relieved.

“Hah… damn it.”