I Became an Evolving Lizard in a Martial Arts Novel-Chapter 233

How could a human body leave such a sword mark?

Logically, it didn’t make sense.

Judging by the indentation in the ground, it was clear the wielder had stood firmly on the ground while swinging the sword. If they had leapt into the air, it might explain how the mark reached such a height, but the swing occurred while they were grounded.

So, how did it reach that high?

If the sword’s length had been absurdly long, that might explain it. But that didn’t seem to be the case. The sword mark was exceptionally short.

Even though I had reached the Transcendent realm, interpreting what the Heavenly Demon left behind was an extraordinarily difficult task.

Still, I had to force it into my mind as much as possible. Just as I had gained enlightenment with "Alone Above All, Heaven and Earth," there might come a moment when it all clicked.

As I stared at it for a long while, Cho-Do murmured softly beside me.

“It’s a fittingly mysterious mark, isn’t it? It’s just a sword mark, yet it radiates an unsettling aura. For a human to leave such a mark is astonishing. Even more remarkable is that it was made without utilizing sword energy or a concentrated energy orb but purely through swordsmanship.”

Energy orbs, or Kanghwan, involve compressing sword energy into a sphere to launch it at a distance. For someone at the Heavenly Demon’s level—at least at the Hyeon-gyeong realm—it would have been effortless. Yet this carving was said to have been created solely through the purity of swordsmanship.

“If the Heavenly Demon had used sword energy or Kanghwan, do you think this carving would have survived intact?”

Hearing her reasoning, I nodded in agreement. At the Heavenly Demon’s level, he could demonstrate martial prowess capable of destroying mountains.

Even Gongbok’s power was enough to plow through my domain; the Heavenly Demon, stronger than the True Dragon, could undoubtedly do much more.

...Thinking that way, it made the carving even more fascinating.

“This mark cannot be attributed to a human,” Cho-Do continued. “The Heavenly Demon learned the movements of spirit beasts. Perhaps it is only natural that his mark defies human limitations.”

It was not a human-like movement.

Wasn’t the Heavenly Demon said to have been the disciple of a tyrannical spirit beast? Surely, this movement must have been modeled after that beast.

“And that is why I believe he surpassed his predecessor. He was a human who mimicked the movements of spirit beasts.”

Comparing humans to spirit beasts, the latter seemed to hold the advantage. A human’s flesh couldn’t penetrate the tough defenses of a spirit beast, whereas the beast’s claws could easily tear through human skin.

However, the stronger each side became, the scales tipped in favor of humans.

If one awakened to Sword Intent or Sword Energy, they could pierce through a spirit beast’s defenses, as I had done with Gongbok.

Moreover, when it came to gaining enlightenment, humans held the upper hand.

Spirit beasts had to master all five elements and achieve harmony to reach Samhwa Chwijung or Ogi Jowon. Humans, on the other hand, accumulated elemental insights simply by living their lives.

Thus, humans gained enlightenment with less effort compared to spirit beasts.

So, what about the Heavenly Demon?

He was undoubtedly human.

Yet he mimicked the movements of spirit beasts, effectively mastering their martial prowess.

He held the strength of a spirit beast.

And the enlightenment of a human.

It was these two attributes that allowed him to surpass the True Dragon.

“Some spirit beasts taking on human forms might be for similar reasons,” Cho-Do remarked.

Most of the spirit beasts I had encountered had adopted human shapes.

Honestly, I had found this curious. Unless they were like me, what reason would they have to take human form?

They were born as beings beyond humans and grew in that state, so their original appearance would feel more natural. Indeed, many spirit beasts I had met preferred their true forms, particularly during first encounters.

Of course, once they realized I tended to gawk at their humanoid forms, more often than not, they remained in human shapes when around me.

The most notable example was the Snake Queen. While she had threatened me in her true form when she first met me with Shikshik, as soon as she noticed I couldn’t take my eyes off her human figure, she stayed in that form.

It was a clever, albeit underhanded, tactic.

In hindsight, I suspected it was the Snake Queen who had inadvertently fostered my bad habits.

I hadn’t been so fixated before meeting her.

Not that I thought it was a bad thing.

If anything, the realization that "bigger isn’t always better"—a key enlightenment of mine—was thanks to her influence.

...I should prepare a gift the next time I visit her.

“Of course, not all spirit beasts who take human form know the stories of the Heavenly Demon and the True Dragon. Such knowledge is limited to beings like the Yongsaeng Guja and ancient spirit beasts.”

That much made sense.

“If taking human form could genuinely make spirit beasts stronger, or if they believed it, wouldn’t the Snake Queen have tried to turn me into a human?”

But she hadn’t. Instead, she sent me to the Compy Elder to learn miniaturization.

Granted, humanization wasn’t something one could simply teach, but it would have been worth a try.

To the Snake Queen, taking human form was simply a practical way to navigate confined spaces.

And, perhaps, to indulge a peculiar lizard with a penchant for certain "soft features."

“Nowadays, humanization could almost be called an instinct for spirit beasts.”

When Kaichal Goa-Thal had tried to sway me, he’d said as much.

Back then, I’d dismissed it as nonsense meant to manipulate me, but now it seemed he might have been right.

“...Modern spirit beasts often assume human forms for reasons as simple as spatial convenience, but that too likely stems from instinct,” Cho-Do said.

The Red Dragon was a prime example.

From our first meeting, she had appeared in human form—not because of aesthetics but because the volcanic hot springs couldn’t accommodate her true size.

“While many spirit beasts adopt human bodies, none have done what the Heavenly Demon did. It’s only natural that differences exist. Mimicking a spirit beast as a human is fundamentally different from a spirit beast mimicking a human.”

The Heavenly Demon was undeniably a human with a human body.

And yet, he had mimicked the movements of spirit beasts.

This was fundamentally different from spirit beasts taking human form. Their imitation was not about copying human thoughts or behaviors, merely the physical form.

Of course, this wasn’t without its advantages.

The Snake Queen using swordsmanship or the Iron-Clad Dragon employing martial arts proved that spirit beasts capable of learning human techniques differed significantly from those who couldn’t.

Yet, there hadn’t been an existence as extraordinary as the Heavenly Demon.

...Wait, what about me?

By any definition, my body was that of a spirit beast.

Not just any spirit beast, but one descended from a high-tier dragon species, the lineage of Gomodo.

And yet, my mind remained human.

Despite having a spirit beast’s body, my thoughts and actions were undeniably human.

Could this be why I had progressed so rapidly?

The system’s assistance aside, it was far from ordinary for a gecko lizard to ascend to such heights in barely over a year.

Perhaps, like the Heavenly Demon, I might someday surpass even the previous Gomodo and the True Dragon.

I turned my gaze once more to the sword marks left behind by the Heavenly Demon.

The Heavenly Demon was both similar to and different from me.

What he had left behind might hold the key to the next stage.

Thump.

My heart began to race.

At the same time, an excruciating pain seared through my eyes.

Cho-Do's concerned voice reached my ears, but I could no longer hear her words.

The carvings on the wall before me shimmered, and then—

Everything vanished.

Cho-Do, Kongbok, the dense grass around us—all gone.

It felt as though I had been transported to another place, entirely unfamiliar yet vaguely recognizable.

There was only one thing I still recognized: the mural I had been staring at.

Or rather, it was no longer a mural.

This was the rock as it had been before the Heavenly Demon carved his marks upon it.

Before me stood a shadowy figure in the shape of a man.

I instantly understood who he was and what he intended to do.

What I was witnessing now were the movements of the Heavenly Demon.

...This must have been possible because of my Dragon Eyes.

It felt like I was dreaming, my consciousness hazy.

But I couldn’t let my focus waver.

I had to commit every one of these movements to memory.

Huuuu.

The shadow inhaled deeply.

And then—

BOOM!

He stepped forward with explosive force, shaking the earth and shattering the sky.

Yin and Yang.

The five elements harmonized, converging at the tip of his sword.

An overwhelming power beyond anything I could fathom.

His movements were as fluid and natural as flowing water.

This was the movement of a spirit beast, executed by a human body.

At last, I could witness what the Heavenly Demon had left behind—a sword technique unlike any other.

CRACK!

But his sword did not fully extend.

The Heavenly Demon stopped his blade mid-swing.

Why?

Was this, too, part of the technique?

No, that wasn’t it.

The Heavenly Demon turned to face me and looked directly into my eyes.

Thump.

My heart pounded violently.

How could it not?

The shadowy figure of the Heavenly Demon smirked at me as though he were aware of my presence.

The sinister silhouette spread its wide, grotesque grin as it slowly advanced toward me.

What was this being?

Was this truly the Heavenly Demon?

I could barely endure its presence.

Faced with such an entity, I wondered—was the True Dragon actually the virtuous one?

How could anyone tolerate the existence of such a monstrous figure?

If it were me, I’d have thought it necessary to destroy this creature as well.

...Then what was Gomodo?

Why had he opposed the True Dragon?

Surely, eradicating this entity would have been reason enough for them to cooperate.

I was utterly confused.

What was I seeing?

Who was the Heavenly Demon, and who was the True Dragon?

And what was the previous Gomodo in all of this?

— “For one blessed with Dragon Eyes, to be deceived by such a thing...”

A familiar voice echoed.

The shadow of the Heavenly Demon froze in its tracks upon hearing it.

— “This isn’t even something left behind by the True Dragon but rather the petty work of some insignificant being.”

— “A creature unworthy of mocking him. If you could be so easily deceived, it’s no wonder others would believe in this farce.”

“Grraugh... grrk!”

The shadow posing as the Heavenly Demon visibly trembled in fear.

“Grrrk...!”

It even covered its mouth with its hands, as though stifling a scream.

Black, foul-smelling liquid oozed from its body like it had encountered its greatest fear.

What kind of entity could terrify such a monstrous being?

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— “I am displeased that you did not take my hand, but allowing you to fall for such nonsense would tarnish my reputation.”

A presence I had not expected in this situation, yet one I found oddly reassuring.

— “Begone, phantom of the past.”

It was Shimma.