Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 160

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 160

 

The arc created by the massive hammer swung with both hands maximized its power at the point of impact.

 

Thwaaack!

 

It made a sticky sound like a rice cake mallet pounding the dough of flesh.

 

Defense was useless.

 

The Demonic Sect member struck by the hammer flew away screaming with his body bent, then crashed into the ground and didn’t get up.

 

At minimum… death.

 

Bent like that, his bones couldn’t possibly be intact, and his organs must have burst inside, turning into mush.

 

“You damn bitch!”

 

When their comrade struck by the hammer flew and crashed like a kite with a broken string, no, like a shot arrow, the nearby Demonic Sect members unleashed killing intent and swung their swords.

 

The moment fierce sword energy was about to rage, she crouched down without any thought of dodging.

 

Clang! Clank!

 

The protective gear that looked like fish skin with overlapping scales had tremendous defensive power.

 

Like a pangolin whose entire body is surrounded by a sturdy shell, it deflected the sword energy.

 

Some deflected sword trajectories left wounds on parts of her body that weren’t completely covered.

 

But though they tore the flesh, they couldn’t tear through to the muscle.

 

“This damn bitch!”

 

Unable to kill her despite three of them attacking, the Demonic Sect members poured out their fury and added more sword strikes.

 

It looked like she was trapped.

 

The hidden weapon attacks were good, and the hammer was good too.

 

But in that situation, what could she do other than defend?

 

Also, while the protective gear was currently protecting her, if sword strikes accumulated, it would eventually lose its defensive power.

 

But those scales look familiar somehow.

 

Where exactly did I see them… Ah!

 

Suddenly an old memory flashed through his mind, and at the same time his hair stood on end.

 

“Miss Dang!”

 

Whether out of concern, Mujin tried to rush in desperately to save her.

 

“Mujin! Stop!”

 

“…What?”

 

“Get away!”

 

When Zhuge Munhyeon quickly threw his body aside, Mujin couldn’t help but be bewildered.

 

Get away? No, how can he be so cold!

 

A woman is in danger, yet instead of thinking to help her… Isn’t it a man’s duty to protect women?

 

“Run, you bastard! If you stay there, you’ll get swept up too!”

 

He even shouted angrily.

 

Swept up?

 

“Damn it, you stupid fool! What Dang Ihwa is wearing isn’t simple protective gear!”

 

“…?”

 

Mujin, who had been blinking blankly, quickly moved his body.

 

At times like this, she’s quick to catch on.

 

At first, he didn’t know what the protective gear she was wearing layer upon layer was.

 

But when he saw her deliberately dive into enemy territory and block swords, one memory flashed through his mind.

 

The Tang Family’s Pangolin Scale Armor.

 

It was one of the treasures they possessed.

 

If it wasn’t that, there was no way she could so easily block the sword energy of trained Demonic Sect members.

 

It seemed they couldn’t see properly because it was night, but the Demonic Sect members’ attacks were only making noise and couldn’t even scratch her pangolin scale armor.

 

They would get angry and approach even closer.

 

To increase the power of their sword strikes.

 

But the moment they closed the distance, those bastards would learn the most terrifying aspect of the pangolin scale armor.

 

No, they would die before they even knew.

 

Long ago, he had approached closely because he was so curious about the sturdy armor that blocked his attacks.

 

He had coveted it.

 

That armor that wouldn’t be cut even by Gang Qi.

 

That’s when he learned.

 

The reason why pangolin scale armor was terrifying.

 

“Die! You evil bastards of the Demonic Sect!”

 

The moment the Demonic Sect members entered within range, Dang Ihwa’s body, which had been crouched defensively, stretched out wide.

 

Thwang!

 

And the scale-shaped protective gear covering her body completely disassembled and flew in all directions.

 

Like a hedgehog raising its spines toward enemies in an instant.

 

That was the true form of the pangolin scale armor.

 

Scales were different from needle-shaped hidden weapons.

 

Their tips were no different from blades with tremendous cutting power, and when divided into hundreds and scattered, nearby objects would be cut so finely that their forms couldn’t even be distinguished.

 

Skrrrrk!

 

The Demonic Sect members couldn’t even leave screams, let alone corpses.

 

Only the sound of blood pouring and flesh chunks falling remained.

 

“Ugh!”

 

Mujin retreated even further than the distance he had initially moved away.

 

Well, he had done the same.

 

Thinking about how he had approached out of curiosity and been caught in that needle baptism, his spine still felt chilled.

 

That was the terrifying aspect of the Tang Family’s Craft Bang.

 

The weapons they crafted could instantly transform even a Lower Martial Artist into a superior martial artist.

 

Look.

 

Dang Ihwa, who was far inferior in terms of skill alone, had shredded four peak-level masters without a trace.

 

Of course.

 

“Huff, huff…”

 

She wasn’t unscathed either.

 

To use the hidden technique of the pangolin scale armor, she would have had to draw up all of her Internal Energy.

 

Thanks to that, Mujin had barely avoided injury.

 

“This isn’t the time to worry about that.”

 

In the distance, a boat can be seen moving across the river.

 

Startled by the attack Tang Ihwa unleashed, they had stopped rowing properly for a moment.

 

Well, it would be their first time seeing the Dragon Scale Armor.

 

There wouldn’t be many who survived after witnessing that technique unfold.

 

He was one of them…

 

There’s no need to worry about Tang Ihwa.

 

Though she had collapsed from exhaustion, all the remaining Demonic Sect members were dead, and Mujin was by her side.

 

“Damn descendants, I’m coming for you.”

 

Zhuge Munhyeon’s foot, having reached the edge of the sandy beach in an instant, stomped forcefully on the ground.

 

Crunch!

 

His foot dug deep into the sand, and his legs bent like a frog preparing to leap, gathering strength.

 

“That crazy bastard, look how far the distance is.”

 

“It looks like he’s trying to perform water-walking.”

 

“Water-walking… Pfft! That’s ridiculous. Water-walking isn’t some neighborhood dog’s name.”

 

The Demonic Sect members on the boat giggled and mocked him.

 

Why did they think they had taken a boat?

 

Because the river width wasn’t a distance that could be crossed with just one’s body.

 

Above all, this place was deep.

 

The deep parts were several fathoms deep, so if one fell into the water, it would be difficult to leap up even if they sank to the bottom.

 

In other words, crossing with just one’s body was impossible without learning water techniques. Even if one managed to cross, it would take an excessive amount of time, so they would have already crossed the river by boat and escaped by then.

 

In the end, it was recklessness born of youthful impetuosity.

 

“Hurry and row! We’ll rendezvous with the Great Evil before the Tang Family’s encirclement across the river closes in!”

 

The Demonic Sect members rowed again.

 

Without paying the slightest attention to Zhuge Munhyeon.

 

Mujin had the same thoughts.

 

Supporting the collapsed Tang Ihwa, Mujin couldn’t help but frown.

 

“Young Master, what on earth are you thinking?”

 

He knew better than anyone in the world how strong Zhuge Munhyeon was.

 

He was someone who deliberately changed his internal energy operation method to act like a martial artist who had reached Gang Qi, and who transformed martial arts that his family had turned away from into supreme divine techniques.

 

But water-walking?

 

Impossible.

 

That wasn’t imitating the level of Gang Qi, but a realm that even those who had surpassed the realm of Gang Qi couldn’t easily achieve.

 

Why else would even Bodhidharma have used a reed leaf to leap across the wide expanse of the Yellow River?

 

What was called “Crossing the River on a Reed” remains a legendary light body technique even now.

 

Amid such doubts and worries.

 

Whoosh!

 

Zhuge Munhyeon’s body shot up and flew over the river.

 

A parabolic arc was drawn.

 

But the end of the trajectory that bent in an instant couldn’t reach the Demonic Sect members’ boat.

 

He plummets toward the water.

 

Just as expected…

 

Mujin’s face twisted with despair, while mockery deepened in the eyes of the Demonic Sect members.

 

You bastards, do you find me amusing?

 

Water Striding? A legendary light body technique?

 

That operates differently from Stepping on Snow Without Traces which leaves no footprints on snow, or Stepping Through Empty Air which supposedly allows walking on air.

 

The difference lies in whether there’s something to step on or not, or whether traces are left behind.

 

Of course, water doesn’t become solid just because you step on it.

 

But!

 

‘Vortex flow…’

 

The moment his toes touched the water’s surface, a strange flow of energy occurred from Zhuge Munhyeon’s feet.

 

Internal energy sometimes has the ability to change the properties of objects.

 

Water to ice, heat to fire, sound to sharp blades.

 

In other words, it can momentarily change water’s properties to make the surface as solid as ground!

 

Of course, this requires advanced concentration and internal energy powerful enough to alter matter.

 

But stepping and leaping once is certainly possible.

 

Whoosh!

 

Zhuge Munhyeon, who was expected to sink, suddenly soared up again.

 

The leap wasn’t as high as before and the distance covered was shorter. No matter how you change its properties, water is different from solid ground.

 

But it was enough to reach the boat.

 

“Gasp! He’s really doing it? Water Striding?”

 

Even Mujin watching from afar couldn’t help but gasp and gape in amazement.

 

And.

 

“W-Water Striding?”

 

The Demonic Sect members could only crane their necks upward toward Zhuge Munhyeon flying over their heads.

 

“Nice to meet you, descendants.”

 

A cold smile appeared on Zhuge Munhyeon’s lips.

 

“Damn it! Kill him!”

 

Stopping their rowing, they frantically tried to draw and swing their swords.

 

An opponent floating in midair is defenseless.

 

Because it’s hard to change direction.

 

But their opponent was Zhuge Munhyeon.

 

I don’t need you.

 

You’re merely stepping stones to reach that Great Evil bastard who departed first.

 

The Silver Cold Staff is drawn.

 

Responding to Zhuge Munhyeon’s internal energy infused with spirit energy, it emits brilliant white light.

 

He was a massive cluster of light falling toward the earth, a meteor plummeting fiercely.

 

Clang! Clang-clang-clang!

 

Deflecting all the incoming sword strikes, Zhuge Munhyeon forcefully stomped on the bow of the boat.

 

Thudoom!

 

Like a lever, one side of the boat shot up high, causing the Demonic Sect members to lose their balance.

 

“I hope you’ve learned water techniques too.”

 

With a low chuckle, his Silver Cold Staff was swung, leaving afterglows with each trajectory, and the boat shattered into pieces and scattered.

 

Zhuge Munhyeon, who leaped simultaneously, headed toward the next boat, while the remaining ones sank into the water along with debris barely large enough to place a foot on.

 

“Great Evil!”

 

Zhuge Munhyeon, who leaped once more, shouted toward the boat ahead.

 

So loudly that the river echoed thunderously.

 

And then.

 

“That bastard?”

 

Great Evil twisted his face at the sight of Zhuge Munhyeon pursuing him.

 

He had already been watching even without the shouting.

 

Ever since he heard the voices of his subordinates who had remained at the riverside until the end.

 

He thought he was facing a pursuit team from the Tang Family.

 

Because it was dark.

 

Because it was far.

 

But when he saw his opponent up close, he couldn’t help but be utterly shocked.

 

Young.

 

From his face, he seemed not to have passed his twentieth year.

 

Yet he was using water-walking techniques…

 

How on earth?

 

But there was no time to ponder.

 

Zhuge Munhyeon had already stepped on the water once more and leaped, flying close to his vicinity.

 

What should he do?

 

He had already crossed two-thirds of the river’s width.

 

If he left the aftermath to his subordinates and leaped, he could cross the river sufficiently.

 

And then, he saw the unconscious Dang Mun-cheong.

 

If it were just the Thunder Stone, perhaps, but now that he had taken on the mission to bring Dang Mun-cheong as well… he couldn’t achieve only half the results.

 

How many subordinates’ lives had been sacrificed for this mission?

 

Above all, the Sect Leader would not forgive him.

 

In the end, his choice was.

 

“Take care of Dang Mun-cheong! I’ll handle that bastard.”

 

“Gr-Great Evil! You mustn’t. Rather, leave it to us and you should take only the Thunder Stone and leave!”

 

“No! I can’t abandon Dang Mun-cheong either!”

 

His subordinates’ objections continued, but Great Evil was already walking toward the back of the boat.

 

A young master who could even use water-walking techniques.

 

He didn’t know what level his skills were at.

 

Whether he was capable of water-walking because he was skilled in light body techniques, or whether he was much stronger than himself.

 

But the fact remained unchanged that he was still on the water.

 

If his only purpose was to shake off the pursuit?

 

Great Evil’s stance lowered.

 

As his internal energy surged rapidly and blood light seeped into his eyes, his sword was drawn the moment it was grasped.

 

Crescent-shaped sword energy, Crimson Moon Wave.

 

Swish!

 

Zhuge Munhyeon gripped his Silver Cold Staff tightly against the sword energy flying through the air.

 

“This bastard, how dare you use a demonic sword strike on me?”

 

He intended to shatter it.

 

The sword energy, and soon after, his head too.

 

White light and blood-red radiance formed a cross.

 

But in that instant.

 

“Huh?”

 

Great Evil’s sword energy scattered before it could even be destroyed.

 

“Foolish bastard. Your skills are good, but you lack experience.”

 

“…?”

 

Great Evil’s mockery rang clearly, followed by a fierce wind that struck his body.

 

It wasn’t an attack, but a trick to push him away. To prevent him from getting any closer.

 

“Ah, damn it.”

 

He had been too complacent.

 

He thought that being from the Demonic Sect, they would clash head-on with force.

 

What was more infuriating was being treated like an inexperienced brat.

 

Splash!

 

Since the attack had just ended, Zhuge Munhyeon couldn’t change the nature of water and his body plummeted into the river.

 

That’s when he thought.

 

Do I… know how to swim?

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