Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 161

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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 161

 

Throughout his life, he had learned this and that, but he had never bothered to learn what were considered mere trivial skills.

 

Hidden weapon techniques—aside from the Tang Family, they were petty arts used by cowards who lacked confidence in their own abilities. The same went for poisons. Formation techniques, mechanical arts too…

 

In his previous life, he hadn’t found any particular need to learn such things.

 

Though he had always fought using the same methods as his opponents’ specialties, water techniques were an exception.

 

He had treated them as trivial skills that only Water Bandits would learn.

 

How weak must one be to only display their true power when fighting in water?

 

Even without learning water techniques, he had once boarded a single ferry and sunk dozens of ships alone, and had also crushed the chief of the Yangtze River waterways, who was said to be the best in All Under Heaven at water techniques, right on the water’s surface.

 

Diving techniques?

 

His self-created Water Bottom Needle was sufficient.

 

What could withstand energy needles that pierced deep into the water? When he had densely planted them, his opponent had begged for mercy.

 

That’s why he had thought it didn’t matter if he didn’t learn water techniques.

 

It was a kind of pride he couldn’t abandon.

 

The idea of a Heavenly Demon flailing his limbs while swimming seemed frivolous to him…

 

But now he deeply regretted that arrogance.

 

His body kept sinking.

 

He had thought that with his excellent adaptability, roughly flailing about would suffice, but it only accelerated his descent.

 

‘Damn it! Why isn’t this working? Were water techniques this difficult?’

 

It was the first hardship and adversity he had ever faced in his life.

 

And why was the water so deep?

 

It seemed he had already sunk more than two fathoms, yet his body continued moving away from the surface.

 

His vision was also growing darker.

 

Soon it became so pitch black that he couldn’t distinguish his surroundings.

 

‘Mmph!’

 

He was running out of breath.

 

At this rate… drowning?

 

As the approaching outcome occurred to him, his heart began to race even more.

 

‘Right, water-walking!’

 

He tried gathering vortexes at his fingertips and toes.

 

If water-walking was possible, why wouldn’t underwater flying work?

 

…It didn’t work.

 

Just when it seemed to be gathering, it scattered without forming a vortex.

 

Since it required extremely complex and subtle energy circulation, it seemed more research was needed. And he didn’t have time for that.

 

His breathing only became more labored. His lungs felt like they were shrinking.

 

‘Damn it, at this rate I’d rather…!’

 

He was definitely going to die at this rate, so shouldn’t he try something?

 

Zhuge Munhyeon looked down at the river bottom that was nothing but darkness and deployed the Thousand Catty Drop.

 

Originally, it was a technique created to lower one’s energy downward and strengthen one’s center, but…

 

Depending on how it was applied, temporarily increasing one’s weight was also possible.

 

Through this, the true angle exerts even greater force and can add power to kicks as well.

 

But what he needed now was only weight to reach the bottom!

 

Swoooosh!

 

As internal energy was added, Zhuge Munhyeon’s body rapidly sank into the water.

 

Just a little more, just a little…

 

Thud.

 

Finally, his feet touched the bottom.

 

‘Damn bastard, I’ll definitely make you die young.’

 

With his mouth shut and grinding his teeth, Zhuge Munhyeon used the bottom as support and shot up with all his might.

 

With one leap, he should easily be able to jump one jang, no, even two jang…

 

It was futile.

 

Perhaps because he was already out of breath and couldn’t properly focus his breathing technique, he stopped after rising less than half of what he normally could.

 

Damn water resistance.

 

“Mmph!”

 

Was it because he exerted himself underwater?

 

He ended up inhaling water through his nose.

 

Thanks to that, he realized water could be painful. It felt like thorns were poking inside his nostrils.

 

‘Damn it… am I going to die so pathetically…’

 

It was devastating.

 

-Young Master Zhuge Munhyeon has… drowned.

 

At Mujin’s words delivering such devastating news, the image of his mother fainting came to mind.

 

On his tombstone, it would probably say he was a fool who died from falling into water while acting recklessly in his youth.

 

For the first time in his life, he truly wanted to live, but since no solution came to mind, he thrashed about like a dragon that failed to ascend to heaven.

 

But then.

 

Glimmer.

 

‘Huh? What’s that?’

 

It was light.

 

Something that had sunk into the river water was emitting a bright light.

 

‘An orb?’

 

He recognized it immediately.

 

The mysterious orb that the ascetic who died at Dongho Lake had coughed up.

 

It seemed to have fallen from his body while he was struggling.

 

But why was that thing, which had been quiet until now, emitting light…

 

Even with death imminent, such thoughts suddenly occurred to him.

 

The Silver Cold Staff that responded to spirit energy by crying out and emitting light, the orb coughed up by the ascetic who had learned spirit energy.

 

Could it be?

 

Since there was no other way anyway, Zhuge Munhyeon swam with all his might and grasped the fallen orb.

 

But while he had no idea what or how to do anything, a thought flashed through his mind momentarily.

 

‘Ah, no way… It can’t be, right? It won’t be.’

 

It shouldn’t be.

 

The orb was originally something that was inside that ascetic’s body.

 

Whether it became an inner core through spirit energy cultivation, or if there was some other effect at work, I don’t know…

 

‘What he coughed up when he died… how could I put it in my mouth…’

 

But when I’m about to die right now, what’s the point of worrying?

 

I had no choice but to try it.

 

Plop.

 

Zhuge Munhyeon, who had tossed the orb into his mouth, waited for some change to come.

 

Like spirit pills that melt smoothly and get absorbed into the body, causing tremendous internal energy to surge forth…

 

‘Damn it, there’s no effect at all. That useless ascetic bastard, coughing up some worthless orb!’

 

Far from melting, the hard thing only felt like a foreign object.

 

Just when he thought he had put it in his mouth for nothing, Zhuge Munhyeon realized the change that had come to him.

 

I can… see?

 

The discomfort had disappeared.

 

Normally, even when opening his eyes, his vision should be blurry, his eyes should sting, and he should feel pressure around his eyes.

 

That’s how it was just moments ago.

 

But now it was comfortable, as if a protective layer had been placed over his pupils. It was the same no matter how many times he blinked.

 

‘I can see… fish?’

 

When he came to his senses, he could clearly see schools of fish swimming that hadn’t been visible before.

 

Not only that, but he could feel the flow of water touching his skin.

 

What kind of miracle is this?

 

What was even more surprising came next, while he was dumbfounded.

 

‘Breathing has… become easier?’

 

The pain that felt like his lungs would shrivel up had disappeared.

 

As if gills had grown somewhere on his body.

 

‘That ascetic gave me quite a gift before leaving.’

 

Amid the incomprehensible situation and lingering absurdity, he suddenly came to his senses.

 

‘Whatever it is, I’m alive, aren’t I? And… what does it matter what miracle this orb caused right now?’

 

There are things like poison-avoiding orbs that neutralize poison when held in the mouth, so there’s no reason there couldn’t be a water-breathing orb that lets you breathe underwater.

 

What’s important is that I can breathe, that I can see.

 

Swimming was still difficult, but it wouldn’t be a problem.

 

My feet can touch the bottom.

 

So?

 

I can just walk!

 

Perhaps due to buoyancy, my body actually felt lighter.

 

At first, he couldn’t move very quickly due to water resistance, but as he gradually got used to the water’s flow, he learned how to cut through it.

 

It was just like that time.

 

When he was reborn as the son of the Zhuge Family with memories of his previous life, repeatedly falling and constantly striving until he took his first steps.

 

Although Mother and Sohye, who used to clap and rejoice beside him, weren’t there, the thrill coursing through his entire body made him tingle with excitement.

 

His steps, carrying the weight of a thousand pounds, became even faster, and his body walked across the river bottom.

 

‘Great Evil, you bastard! How dare a distant descendant lecture me about experience and whatnot? Don’t get caught by the Tang Family and wait—I’ll cut your lifeline with my own hands.’

 

* * *

 

Above the water surface.

 

With the heart of one being pursued, they rowed with all their might, making the boat advance quickly.

 

Soon they would reach the riverside.

 

Since no torches were visible, it was clear that the Tang Family’s pursuit team had not yet established their encirclement.

 

Though there had been some delay and greater damage than expected, it was all for the completion of their mission—a noble death.

 

Once they crossed the river, they would just need to run straight.

 

Toward the north.

 

The river he glanced back at was calm.

 

Not even a corpse had floated up.

 

He probably hadn’t learned water techniques.

 

Well, like the Demonic Sect, no sect except water bandit groups taught water techniques with particular care.

 

It was merely a miscellaneous skill—nice to learn, but no big deal if you didn’t.

 

“Phew… It’ll take three days before he swells up and floats to the surface.”

 

As he was stroking his chest in relief, he suddenly frowned.

 

His pride was hurt by the fact that he had felt relief because of just one guy.

 

“Great Evil! We’ve arrived.”

 

“Abandon the boat. Let’s quickly cross the river.”

 

“Yes!”

 

The distance wasn’t far.

 

No matter how fast the boat was, how could it compare to the movements of martial artists?

 

“I’ll carry Dang Mun-cheong.”

 

“Do so.”

 

It was a matter of dignity.

 

As a leader, he couldn’t carry a prisoner on his back.

 

If the distance were far, it might be different, but since the riverside was right there, it was sufficient for a subordinate to carry him and run.

 

“Let’s go!”

 

“Yes!”

 

With the shout, Great Evil launched his body.

 

With a large parabolic arc, he landed safely on the sandy ground of the riverside.

 

Following him, though falling a bit short, his subordinates came after.

 

Only the subordinate carrying Dang Mun-cheong couldn’t completely escape the water, but since it only came up to his knees, it wasn’t much to worry about.

 

After all the twists and turns, the mission would succeed.

 

Great Evil enjoyed the brief respite he had gained while waiting for the subordinate carrying Dang Mun-cheong to completely emerge onto land.

 

Though in just a few more steps, they would have to start running again.

 

But then.

 

Swoooosh!

 

Suddenly something burst up from the water, sending a spray of water flying.

 

It was night, and the figure that emerged from the water appeared even blacker, grinning brightly as it instantly devoured the subordinate who was escaping from the river.

 

Crack!

 

It was a loud noise.

 

The subordinate whose neck was broken in an instant collapsed face-first into the river water.

 

White steam rose from the body of the man who swept back his wet hair.

 

“Ptui.”

 

The man, Zhuge Munhyeon, immediately spat out the orb and tucked it into his chest.

 

The light disappeared.

 

Hmm, was it the type that only worked its magic underwater?

 

“Whew… Still, thanks to that I barely managed to arrive.”

 

“You, you bastard?”

 

“What? Surprised?”

 

It was him.

 

The one who had been chasing them using water-walking techniques and fell into the water…

 

He was alive?

 

Great Evil couldn’t hide his surprised expression.

 

He had constantly looked back while crossing the river, preparing for any contingency.

 

The water surface had been calm.

 

He hadn’t seen anything like a head poking out of the water to breathe.

 

So he had held his breath?

 

That was impossible, wasn’t it?

 

To endure holding one’s breath for that long, there would be no way other than the Turtle Breathing Technique.

 

But turtle breathing wasn’t completely stopping one’s breath. One had to breathe minimally. Therefore, the Turtle Breathing Technique couldn’t be used underwater. Not without drowning.

 

But then how exactly?

 

“I was lucky. Even if I met you bastards, I was wondering how I should secure the Craft Bang Leader.”

 

“…!”

 

Great Evil’s eyes flashed open in an instant.

 

In Zhuge Munhyeon’s arms was Dang Mun-cheong, who had been carried by the now-dead subordinate.

 

“Stupid bastard, this is what happens when you entrust a prisoner to a subordinate for appearances’ sake. Well, that’s all due to lack of experience, lack of experience. Thanks to that I rescued the person… Now I just need to steal the Thunder Stone after killing you all?”

 

“You, you bastard…”

 

It was mockery.

 

He was getting back the exact words he had said.

 

“Retrieve Dang Mun-cheong!”

 

At the sharp cry like striking an iron plate, the Demonic Sect members rushed forward like a flock of swallows kicking off the water.

 

Fierce killing intent became wind and swept through fiercely.

 

But this wasn’t underwater.

 

Though he was a bit tired, it meant he could pour out all his strength.

 

With a slight upturn of his lips, Zhuge Munhyeon waited for the Demonic Sect members to approach, then lifted his foot above the water surface and strongly planted it on the ground.

 

Just as he manipulates internal energy to change the properties of water to perform Water Walking… he can also change the properties of explosively surging water with the energy contained in his zhen jiao.

 

Though he doesn’t know why it didn’t work underwater!

 

Kwaaaaang!

 

Water spray erupted like an explosion from Zhuge Munhyeon’s kick.

 

And that water spray had its properties changed by Zhuge Munhyeon, gaining cutting power equivalent to sword blades.

 

Swoooosh.

 

The water spray that had surged high loses its force and falls to the earthly realm.

 

Like rain falling.

 

And soon blood mixed into the rain.

 

The bodies of the Demonic Sect members who had approached were randomly sliced and fell onto the water surface.

 

“Well, now only you remain.”

 

“…”

 

Zhuge Munhyeon’s eyes flashed coldly as he killed all the attacking Demonic Sect members with a single zhen jiao.

 

You descendant called Great Evil, we have much to discuss. Don’t we?

—————
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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