Appearance of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 104

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 104
Screeeee—!
The shadows of the blood corpses converged toward a single point as if being sucked inward.
In that fleeting instant, a strange silence flowed through.
And then.
Crash-boom—!
The blood corpses that had swarmed toward Am-yeong Majun scattered in all directions.
Their entire bodies were covered in sword cuts as if they had been slashed to pieces.
Thud-thud-thud—!
The blood corpses that flew backward collided head-on with the advancing blood corpses.
And at the center of that tremendous force stood Am-yeong Majun, unblemished and serene.
“Surely you know by now that things as pathetic as these are no match for me?”
Behind the blood corpses, Gwi-hon Majun’s eyes grew cold as he observed the situation.
Meeting that icy gaze, Am-yeong Majun let out a smirk.
“Well, this wasn’t meant to measure my strength either, was it? Running out of supplies? Has corpse-crafting become so easy these days?”
“Am-yeong Majun. For what reason do you resist so desperately?”
The blood corpses that had fallen scrambled to their feet.
Even those blood corpses that had lost arms or had their abdomens split open by Am-yeong Majun’s blade rose up.
Yet they did not rush forward recklessly as before.
They had come to understand that as blood corpses, they could not even leave a scratch on Am-yeong Majun’s garments.
“A clash between Magun is not what the Gyojoo desires. If you withdraw now, I shall likewise hold back the full strength of the Family. Moreover, I swear we will not lay a hand on the child.”
Am-yeong Majun laughed, a low chuckle.
He slung his blade across his shoulder and stood with a twisted smirk as he spoke.
“By that logic, it sounds as though you were planning to harm the child?”
…!
Gwi-hon Majun gripped his sword.
He continued with an edge of tension in his voice.
“I concede that when the barrier broke, we gave no thought to the child’s safety.”
This was an admission that they had been willing to push through the Array Technique regardless of what became of the child.
“As you well know, the strange bird is our Gwi-hon Family’s greatest treasure. Surely you understand the considerable gains our sect derives from it? So then….”
“That bird’s name… was it really Gwae-jo? I don’t think so. Ah, yes—the bird from that old tale you mentioned just before, the one with wings.”
…!
Gwi-hon Majun’s expression darkened.
“You would do well not to speak further of this.”
“Why? Afraid the winged phoenix will awaken to its true form and take flight…?”
Gwi-hon Majun unleashed his inherited Demonic Art.
Hundred Ghosts Wild Dance!
Screee—!
Before Am-yeong Majun could finish speaking, Gwi-hon Majun’s form surged toward him.
His silver robe fluttered sharply as his blade, wreathed in Ghostly Energy, came cutting through.
Clang—screee—!
Gwi-hon Majun’s sword wielded a dominion like that of a ghost commanding legions.
Each time he drew his blade, lost souls rushed toward Am-yeong Majun.
Crash—clang-crash—clash—!
This was the aura of that which does not exist, the shriek of the damned.
Parrying that strange blade, Am-yeong Majun burst into laughter.
“Hahahaha! Wasn’t I trying to settle this through words if possible? I thought you wanted to avoid combat by routing those blood corpses? Oh, did I strike a nerve? I was merely making idle conversation about an interesting old tale!”
“Will that mouth of yours not shut!”
Clang-crash—!
A heavy, clinging Ghostly Energy and deep Demonic Qi whirled together in a torrent.
The surrounding brush, unable to withstand the dense Demonic Qi, darkened and withered.
The warriors who followed Gwi-hon Majun had already herded the blood corpses and withdrawn beyond the radius of the two combatants.
Gu-yeong, who had been engaged with the blood corpses on the other side, too hastily widened the distance.
Crash—clang-crash—boom-crash—!
Such was the nature of a clash between Magun.
Merely the collision of blades would make heaven and earth hold their breath, and the overflow of force alone would cause plants to wither.
It was truly no exaggeration to call it a Minor Disaster wrought by human hands.
All the more so because the foundation of Demonic Qi was not Life itself.
Boom—crash—boom!
The clash between the two Magun grew ever more fierce.
Despite the fierce momentum, the two exchanged blows with swords that seemed almost light, but gradually they began to channel their full power into each strike.
“…!!”
Gu-yeong, still engaged with the blood corpses on one side, turned his head toward the Strange Bird’s nest in alarm.
‘If this continues….’
The nest will be in danger.
The point where the two Magun collided was right beside the nest.
Which meant their combined force could affect the Array Technique layered around it.
Especially.
‘There’s a high chance the Array Technique will react to Gwi-hon Majun’s Ghost Energy!’
If that happens, the child will…!
Thud!
Gu-yeong drove back one of the charging blood corpses with a thrust of his spear to its temple, his eyes fixed on Am-yeong Majun.
He could only hope the other man hadn’t forgotten about the child.
And in that moment, Am-yeong Majun was.
“Aha! Hahahaha! Why so desperate? Your agitation shakes heaven and earth itself!”
He met Gwi-hon Majun’s blade with nimble footwork, as though dancing a sword dance.
No—it was closer to flowing past each strike entirely.
“Gwi-hon! Since we’ve crossed blades, we might as well enjoy this for a while!”
“Silence! Do you even comprehend what you’re doing right now? Losing the Strange Bird is not merely the main family’s concern!”
“Ha! I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re on about! I’m simply protecting a student I hold dear!”
“You thoughtless fool!”
Bang! Crash-clang! Boom!
With each strike from Gwi-hon Majun, the force grew fiercer still.
Gwi-hon Majun was desperate.
‘The seal… the seal is breaking…!’
The family’s forbidden technique binding the Strange Bird!
He had been aware that something had gone wrong with the seal before reaching the nest.
But now, he felt it unmistakably.
The seal was being broken.
Not much remained before it snapped entirely.
It hung by a thread—as though it might shatter at any moment.
Crack.
“…!”
The Ghost Soul Maga’s transmitted martial art.
Myriad Souls Return!
Whoooosh—!
As Gwi-hon Majun spun his blade, the wandering spirits that had been rushing toward Am-yeong Majun converged around the sword.
And that gathering force.
Shriek—!
Became a wave of blade force that flew toward Am-yeong Majun.
The corner of Am-yeong Majun’s mouth twisted into a bitter smile as he faced the incoming blade wave.
“You’re already too late.”
“…!”
Beyond the blade wave, Gwi-hon Majun saw that smile and felt, in an instant, as though something precious were slipping infinitely away.
Slash—!
Am-yeong Majun raised his blade diagonally upward to meet it.
Boom—!
Gwi-hon Majun’s wave of force dissipated.
To the eye, it seemed as though a blade without even a hint of force had cancelled out his overwhelming power.
But knowing that to be impossible, Gwi-hon Majun felt every hair on his body stand on end.
‘What on earth….’
What had he just witnessed….
That was when it happened.
Crack— crackle-crackle-crackle— crack—
From all directions came the sound of something hard crumbling.
The sound of the blood corpses scattered about, disintegrating.
“What is this….”
[Hahahahaha! Hahahahahaha!]
“!!”
Without thinking, Gwi-hon Majun nearly clapped his hands over his ears.
But instead, he lifted his gaze.
Whoosh—whosh—
A violent wind swept across the vicinity.
The silver-threaded robe of Gwi-hon Majun rippled harshly in the gust.
His eyes, lifted toward the sky, trembled.
An ancient admonition he had heard long ago from his ancestors echoed through his mind.
“The secret sealing technique passed down through the main family binds not merely its form, but its very existence—maintain the technique at all costs.”
“Let this be engraved upon your heart.”
“You must never awaken that one.”
His gaze turned toward the sun—no, toward that which fluttered its wings near the sun.
Crimson feathers gleamed with a clarity as if carved from ruby, and dozens of flames blazed from the tips of the plumage as though radiating pure essence.
The elongated tail feathers left trails of fire across the blue sky, while eyes suffused with crimson light shone brilliantly, as though holding the sun itself.
With each sweep of those vast wings, the air convulsed; gazing into those noble eyes, breath caught in the throat.
It was neither demon nor spirit creature.
More deny its existence than believe it real.
A being of higher order.
The Divine Bird of Crimson Flame that blanketed the heavens.
Phoenix.
It floated in the sky—that which had once been the guardian deity of the Gwi-hon Family in ages long past.
[Foolish mortals. Creatures woven through with greed. How tenaciously has your ancient bondage persisted through all these ages.]
A voice of nobility and transcendence shook heaven and earth.
It compelled even the most insignificant of humans to bow their heads of their own accord.
[A life as fleeting as a daytime dream shall fade away, and only the eternal supreme presence comes now to this place.]
The Phoenix’s eyes fixed upon the human.
The one whose very existence it had seized, who lost even memory, and who lived by the name of the Strange Bird.
And the multitude of the Gwi-hon Maga—descendants of that human.
[Now let me sever this wretched karmic tie at last.]
* * *
Even after the Phoenix departed, not a soul of the Gwi-hon Maga could readily lift their head.
Ssss—
Countless barrier formations, now purposeless, lost their strength and slowly faded away.
Am-yeong Majun looked down at Gwi-hon Majun, who lay prostrate on the ground, trembling violently.
Just moments before, he had wielded his blade with boisterous confidence, but now, shrunken with terror, he cut a pitiful figure.
Yet the violet eyes that gazed down upon him were impassive.
Those eyes lay still as still water, empty of all feeling, all stirring.
“Am-yeong?”
In an instant, light flickered back into them.
Am-yeong Majun turned his head sharply.
Inside the Nest, Yeon-woo stood holding something precious in both hands.
Meeting her eyes behind a startled mask, Yeon-woo tilted her head.
“What are you doing here?”
Her gaze swept across the dozens of adults sprawled before him.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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