Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 163

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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 163

Great Evil’s brow furrowed.

A single clash.

Just one move from the bastard who had seemed to be losing the entire time.

His palm was torn and blood dripped down as he struggled not to lose his grip on his sword. The aching sensation spread from his wrist all the way to his elbow.

Most irritating of all was that grating sound.

Crunch. Crunch.

It seemed like every step was crushing each and every grain of sand.

‘Damn it, of all times…’

Where he glanced, a young Taoist who had crossed the river was carrying Tang Ihwa on his back.

“Now I finally feel refreshed.”

Zhuge Munhyeon shook his head left and right, loosened his hands and feet, and smiled.

“…Bastard, do you think anything will change just because your group has grown?”

“It doesn’t seem like I’m the only one who knows things have already changed?”

“What?”

“Your arm, doesn’t it hurt quite a bit?”

“…”

When Zhuge Munhyeon’s gaze turned toward his wrist, Great Evil’s face reddened slightly and a small grinding sound came from inside his mouth.

“Mujin.”

“Yes.”

“Let me ask you a favor.”

“Are you alri… I understand.”

Mujin was about to ask if he would be okay alone but soon nodded his head.

They had already exchanged attacks several times.

He would have sufficiently assessed the opponent’s skills, and at least he didn’t carelessly say things he wasn’t confident about.

“I’ll return after handing her over to the Tang Family.”

“It’ll be over before then.”

Mujin, who smiled slightly at Zhuge Munhyeon’s nonchalant response while keeping his gaze fixed on Great Evil, disappeared into the forest.

“These bastards dare to leave me behind…”

Great Evil’s eyes flared as he watched Mujin flee after securing only Tang Ihwa without any thought of helping.

“Stop right there. I have no intention of letting you chase after him.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Feel free to test it.”

“…”

At the provocative words spoken with a slight smile, Great Evil only frowned.

He truly couldn’t give chase.

The subtle energy flowing through Zhuge Munhyeon’s body spread like a spider web, dominating the space and blocking any gaps for escape.

It was a strange feeling.

He couldn’t see a path.

And that weapon.

‘Myeongeum (: crying sound)?’

The weapon in his hand was emitting a faint cry.

Though it was a fellow that didn’t react to internal energy, ever since it absorbed the energy of death at Dongho Lake, spirit energy had been faintly mixed in, making it cry well and flash with light.

Of course, the Great Evil who couldn’t know the inside story had no choice but to frown.

Because myeongeum was only possible for those who had achieved unity with their weapon.

‘And what exactly is that form…’

It had the shape of an iron rod, or it could be called an iron club, which orthodox martial artists rarely used.

Among the countless characters engraved on its surface, several were emitting light.

Though weapons that react to internal energy were countless even in the Demon Cult, an inexplicable uneasiness crept over him.

“Not bad, to think there would be a young fellow like you in the Central Plains.”

“It’s misfortune for you.”

“Misfortune?”

“Right. Very great misfortune.”

“Misfortune… Even if you’ve realized unity at a young age, even if what you possess is a priceless treasure, you wouldn’t be a match for me. It sounds as if someone like you could do something to me.”

“That’s right.”

“What?”

“Your target disappeared but you can’t chase after them. Isn’t that right?”

“…”

The Great Evil gritted his teeth without answering.

Because he couldn’t deny it.

“Let me ask you something while we’re at it. Originally I was going to beat you up first then ask, but quite some time has passed. The Tang Family will arrive soon too.”

“…Are you planning to buy time?”

“Why would I? What use is time against someone who thinks he can easily break through the Tang Family’s encirclement? Let’s just say I can’t contain my curiosity.”

“Stop it. Whatever you say, you won’t hear an answer.”

“Just listen for now.”

“…”

“Targeting the Thunder Stone and Tang Munqing is understandable… but why did you use the Ipmakyeong?”

“What?”

Even the Great Evil, who had been about to dismiss it carelessly, couldn’t help but be shocked at that moment.

Ipmakyeong?

How could someone who wasn’t even from the Demon Cult know that name?

“How do you know that… hmm…”

The Great Evil muttered without realizing it.

It was a mistake.

Too elementary a mistake for someone called the chief seat of Milying, the Demon Cult’s intelligence organization.

He had essentially admitted to using the Ipmakyeong.

But it was so unexpected that he couldn’t help but blurt out words like an exclamation.

His eyes were filled more with questions about how Zhuge Munhyeon knew such a fact than with self-reproach for his mistake.

“How I know isn’t really important. What’s important is why the Ipmakyeong, which was created for the purpose of treating cult members who had fallen into demonic possession, was used for attack.”

“What, what did you say?”

Shock was added to his confusion.

How does this bastard even know the background of the Entrance to Madness technique?

“The Entrance to Madness technique was a sad art. Because it was a sacrifice. If it wasn’t for the purpose of treatment, it should never have been performed.”

“….”

“Because turning a martial artist who should die proudly fighting on the battlefield into a beast that loses its reason and doesn’t even know why it’s dying is an act that tramples on their pride.”

Great Evil’s eyes bulged as if they would tear apart.

“Who are you? How do you know such things?”

“I said that’s not important.”

“….”

“Has the Demonic Path lost its way? Or has it become so weakened by long civil wars that you had no choice but to use the Entrance to Madness technique to break through the Tang Family’s defenses?”

It was a completely different question than what he had expected.

“Does the Sect Leader also know this fact? No, that’s the wrong question. Since the Entrance to Madness technique has been treated as top secret even within the sect, it couldn’t have been passed down to just the leader of a secret camp, so naturally the Sect Leader must know too. Hmm, so in the end, has the Demonic Path also changed as time passed?”

While Zhuge Munhyeon even lamented and frowned, Great Evil’s expression changed more than dozens of times.

Changed according to the flow of time?

What on earth does that mean?

In the midst of this, isn’t he talking as if he himself is a member of the Demonic Sect?

“You bastard, what is your identity? Why do you know so much detail about things that only the Demonic Sect knows?”

“Hmm… this is strange indeed. Why do you call yourself the Demonic Sect instead of the Demonic Path or Divine Sect? Just like the Central Plains calls it?”

Zhuge Munhyeon frowned and let out a long sigh.

It should have been called the Demonic Path.

Or it should have been properly called the Divine Sect.

Because it was the term his ancestors, himself, and his junior scholars had used to refer to themselves, and it was a word that contained pride and a compass for life.

There are laws and systems, and there is a path to follow.

The Demonic Path had developed and flowed within that framework.

Only the people of the Central Plains call it the Demonic Sect, disparaging it as fanatics crazed by blood and slaughter.

So had it really changed?

Had it lost the name of the Demonic Path?

Even if quite a long time had passed, there are things that should never change.

“You bastard! Answer me! Why do you speak as if you know the Demonic Sect well!”

His raised voice echoed thunderously across the sandy beach, and his angry eyes glared at Zhuge Munhyeon as if to devour him.

However.

“I asked first.”

“What?”

“Why you used the Entrance to Madness technique, and whether the Demonic Path has abandoned its traditions.”

“You, you, you brat from the Tang Family!”

“Tang Family? Oh my… it seems you’ve misunderstood me?”

“What?”

“I’m not from the Tang Family, but from the Zhuge Family. Zhuge Munhyeon, that’s my name.”

“The Zhuge Family?”

“Yes.”

As he nodded, the Great Evil’s expression, who had been grinding his teeth as if chewing something, changed several times.

As if pondering something.

Then, as if he had found an answer, he nodded slowly.

“I see. You said you knew a lot, and it turns out you’re a damn brat from a scholarly family. No wonder… In the end, you were planning to shake my mind and buy time.”

“…”

Crazy bastard.

Even though he had already said it was pure curiosity.

He seemed to think that the reason he knew so much about the Demonic Sect was because he was from the Zhuge Family.

It’s not like the Zhuge know everything about the world.

Who would have thought that this guy from Milying, this so-called leader, would be so thoughtless.

It seems the Demonic Path has not only changed but also deteriorated significantly in quality.

“I will answer no more. I will give you no more time, you blood spawn of the Zhuge Family.”

“…Well, fine. If you have no intention of answering, there’s no need to ask. I’m not the type to extract information through torture anyway. Then shall we begin now? The Path of Death?”

“Path of Death… You’ve researched the Demonic Sect quite thoroughly. Truly thoroughly.”

The Great Evil wore a cold smile.

Path of Death.

The road leading to death.

The Demonic Path considered it shameful to beg for one’s life in battle against enemies, or to be defeated and grovel at the enemy’s feet.

Rather, they considered it honorable to fight to the end and choose death.

“I’ll kill you as you wish, you brat of the Zhuge Family.”

The Great Evil’s killing intent grew thicker.

The fierce light rising in his eyes also deepened.

The time had come when one of the two must die.

Well, it didn’t matter.

He was his descendant, but in his heart, he had already left no connection with him.

Someone who used the Demon Entrance Scripture to turn his subordinates into beasts hungry for blood couldn’t be called part of the Demonic Path.

He was merely an enemy whose name didn’t need to be asked or remembered.

“Come at me.”

Zhuge Munhyeon extended the Silver Cold Staff straight out, aiming at the Great Evil while raising one finger and wiggling it.

The Great Evil, with blood light flashing in his eyes, charged forward the moment he lifted his foot, and immediately a sword strike filled with chilling killing intent that made one’s hair stand on end came flying.

The moment the Silver Cold Staff struck the center of the swinging sword strike, creating a metallic sound, the fierce battle began once again.

Fragments of energy scattered in all directions, and sand rustled and scattered from the shock waves created each time sword and staff collided.

The exchange of attacks and defenses instantly continued for over ten rounds. The two poured murderous attacks toward each other as if they would fight to the death.

As if neither would retreat even a single step.

Martial techniques multiplied, and variations increased to an uncountable number.

Even while tearing at each other’s bodies, they engaged in a tense close combat, trying to get even one step closer to their opponent.

However, their thoughts were completely different.

Zhuge Munhyeon felt the atmosphere of his hometown for the first time in a while from the sword thick with demonic energy.

He had fought two martial artists from Milying before, but hadn’t felt the intensity as much as he did with the Great Evil.

At this very moment, the precariousness of losing one’s life if distracted even for an instant created extreme tension, making him feel exhilarated as if he had returned to some time in the past.

‘Dark Night?’

It was one of the proud swordsmanship techniques of the Demonic Path.

The reason he could remember it even after such a long time was because the sword path had become familiar through nearly a hundred exchanges of offense and defense.

‘I thought he was incompetent, but he’s learned it quite well.’

Zhuge Munhyeon, who grew more impressed with each exchange, pressed the Great Evil even harder.

The palm flesh gripping the Silver Cold Staff stung as if it had been pushed back and torn, but the thrill of battle was stronger than the pain.

On the other hand, the Great Evil couldn’t help but feel bewildered.

‘This, this bastard…’

He was evenly matched with him?

Although the secret camp’s influence had weakened while the Demon Cult was lying low, being used as expendable resources in internal conflicts, it still held one pillar of power.

Even though his elder position was taken away and he was distanced from power, he was still treated as an elder-level figure.

But how…

How could he be suffering such humiliation from a young martial artist of the Central Plains?

Even though he was already using his full power, Zhuge Munhyeon was gradually finding gaps and closing in. Even as his clothes were cut and his flesh torn with blood spreading, he aimed for his throat like a crazed beast.

As if he knew no fear.

One step, then another step.

As that breathing drew closer, fear began to arise in the Great Evil’s heart.

And that fear made another thought emerge in his mind that had already prepared for death.

Was death the right choice?

He had missed the Tang Family’s young master, but he had secured the Thunder Stone.

Though it was only half a success, craftsmen could be found anywhere, so if he offered the Thunder Stone, he could receive some recognition for his achievement…

Thus arose the second choice: escape.

And thought soon led to action.

The energy condensed around his sword like coiling threads exploded outward as he swung.

‘Dark Night, Single Strike Destroys Heaven.’

It was a sword technique he already knew.

A martial technique that released energy in an instant to deliver an intense shock.

But in this situation?

When he hadn’t even secured a clear advantage yet?

Zhuge Munhyeon’s face, which had been filled with doubt, suddenly contorted with rage.

‘He’s thinking of escape?’

Anger surged within him.

The bastard who had lured out the Tang Family’s main forces and sent his subordinates to dishonorable deaths… wanted to live alone.

He had thought the man would at least preserve his final pride.

Grind.

Though force should properly be met with force, Zhuge Munhyeon, whose teeth ground at such baseness, brought down the Silver Cold Staff diagonally.

Clang clang clang clang clang!

Sparks flew up with the sound of metal being ground, and thanks to this, he plunged straight into the Great Evil’s opened guard.

“I won’t preserve your honor. I’ll trample it miserably!”

“Hut!”

As cold eyes that made the back of his neck stand on end pierced beneath his chin and a palm strike surged up, the Great Evil responded hastily in shock.

Zzzeeeeeeng!

The two palms that collided right before his face created a dull sound.

“Urk!”

Though it was an impact strong enough to lift his body, the Great Evil gritted his teeth and added more Internal Energy to his hands.

But at that moment, the Great Evil’s eyes widened.

A foreign energy contained within the palm force broke through the wall made of Internal Energy and flowed up his arm.

‘Th-this power is?’

That somehow familiar energy… was exactly the same as what the New Sect Leader used.

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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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