Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 179

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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 179

 

Thwack! Crack!

 

Each time hands and feet crossed and fists exchanged, bone-crushing sounds erupted.

 

It was a close combat that one couldn’t take their eyes off.

 

Those watching held their breath and swallowed nervously.

 

As the exchanges intensified, rather than tiring, the two became faster and more fierce.

 

‘To think such a person existed…’

 

Zhuge Munhyeon couldn’t hide his inner surprise.

 

A life regained.

 

Born under the Zhuge name, he had learned and mastered new things, but had not neglected cultivating martial arts.

 

Rather, like the impatience of one who had already reached a certain realm, he had pushed himself to the limits with reckless determination to recover his past strength.

 

His muscles had become tough enough that they no longer needed to be overworked, and his blood vessels had thickened enough for internal energy to flow freely without discomfort.

 

Was that all?

 

On top of that, the experience accumulated from wandering All Under Heaven in the past had seeped in, so he was confident he would never lose to those within the category of humans.

 

What he lacked was only martial duels with strong opponents who would help his experience become ingrained in his body, and internal energy that had not yet reached the Gang realm.

 

In the midst of this, the Azure Heaven Technique was a fight favorable to him in many ways. He was confident he wouldn’t lose.

 

But what exactly was this fellow?

 

Though not precise, about sixty years had passed since his death, and being reborn to count near his coming of age, roughly eighty years had passed in total.

 

‘Wi Jungsan.’

 

A junior scholar of a relatively close generation, but someone who hadn’t existed during the period when he was active.

 

Moreover, through the fights with the previous nine, he had recalled the combat techniques used by the Beast Palace.

 

This was thanks to once living in the same era as Beast Palace Master Ashin, getting along well and often having martial duels, and sharing in-depth discussions about each other’s martial arts.

 

He was confident that probably few in the current Beast Palace knew their martial arts better than he did.

 

But Wi Jungsan was different.

 

He was clearly using the Beast Palace’s combat techniques, yet the trajectory of his hands and feet showed subtle differences while appearing similar.

 

Above all, this spacing.

 

The moment he thought he had dodged sufficiently, the attack would penetrate deeper and strike his body.

 

The spacing changed unpredictably moment by moment, making it difficult to counter.

 

‘…Could this be?’

 

A memory that suddenly flashed by.

 

Confirmation was needed.

 

The moment Wi Jungsan’s elbow came striking toward his shoulder, Zhuge Munhyeon didn’t dodge and took it head-on.

 

Thud!

 

The sound of impact scattered weakly.

 

This was because he had deflected the shock at the moment of impact.

 

And immediately he threw a punch toward the exposed solar plexus.

 

It was a clever move that would be difficult for him to easily block, with his center disrupted by the failed attack.

 

A situation where he had no choice but to give up his solar plexus.

 

But he didn’t dodge.

 

Rather, as if telling him to strike, he exposed his solar plexus completely while extending his hand straight to stab at the Cheondol acupoint around the neck area (between the collarbones).

 

It was a move that would cause massive damage to both if the attack wasn’t stopped.

 

An attack method that seemed similar to mutual destruction of ‘you die and I die too,’ but the real core lay in the subtle difference contained in their two attacks.

 

A clenched fist and a hand blade.

 

Naturally, the hand blade had to be longer.

 

A technique that turned even an instant’s gap into an advantage for attack.

 

‘Second Strike!’

 

As expected…

 

Realizing his thoughts were correct, Zhuge Munhyeon twisted his extended fist the moment their arms crossed.

 

There was no need to take unnecessary damage.

 

Paang!

 

With a tingling shock, Wi Jungsan’s face grimaced, and Zhuge Munhyeon stepped back to create distance.

 

“Whew, I almost got my neck pierced.”

 

“…”

 

Wi Jungsan’s eyes trembled slightly at the sight of him stroking his neck and making jokes.

 

Neck?

 

This bastard had noticed his target in that situation?

 

“…Well now, repeatedly surprising. Did you perhaps see it?”

 

“Let’s say something like that.”

 

“Remarkable. Finding and responding to an instant’s gap isn’t easy. How are such things possible at your age?”

 

“I have tremendously outstanding talent.”

 

“Hehe, really.”

 

Wi Jungsan shook his head in admiration.

 

“By the way, I was quite surprised too. I didn’t know it was connected like that.”

 

“What?”

 

“Ah, no. I’m talking to myself. Don’t worry about it.”

 

Zhuge Munhyeon waved his hands and laughed.

 

But in Wi Jungsan’s mind, those words remained as a question.

 

Connected?

 

What could that mean?

 

And in Zhuge Munhyeon’s mind, an old memory was surfacing.

 

In the past, he had once discussed distance with Beast Palace Master Ashin, who he had been close friends with.

 

Ja, chon, chi.

 

Various methods of measuring distance.

 

Couldn’t this be applied to attack or defense?

 

What was created from that was the Second Strike.

 

At the time, urgent matters arose in the Demonic Path, so he had returned without completing it.

 

‘Then I forgot about it.’

 

In fact, the technique of Second Strike wasn’t particularly important to those who had reached the Absolute realm.

 

It had just been an argument for entertainment.

 

It was rare for them to fight while excluding internal energy, and no matter how much they utilized distance-based attacks, they couldn’t use them against opponents who possessed internal energy.

 

However, it seemed Ashin had been continuously contemplating this.

 

And he probably wanted to pass down that completed form to future generations so they could develop it further.

 

‘That fellow… making me fall into memories for no reason.’

 

Isn’t this truly a strange connection?

 

If he were in his past form when he was called the Heavenly Demon rather than appearing as a descendant of the Zhuge Family, he would have patted Wei Zhongshan’s head.

 

Saying he was admirable.

 

Saying he had inherited well from his predecessors.

 

Look, Ashin.

 

Your descendants have grown up so well.

 

My descendants were causing civil wars just to claim the Sect Leader position… damn it.

 

“May I ask you one thing?”

 

“Please speak.”

 

Wei Zhongshan’s manner of speech had changed at some point.

 

Rather than speaking down to him unconditionally as before, he showed respect through semi-formal speech.

 

It was because he had finally acknowledged Zhuge Munhyeon’s skills.

 

“That attack from earlier.”

 

“…”

 

“Would it be useful even in situations where internal energy is used?”

 

At Zhuge Munhyeon’s question, Wei Zhongshan’s brow furrowed and puzzlement settled in his eyes.

 

Why would he ask such a thing?

 

No, more than that, how had he precisely pinpointed the part that had remained a weakness of the Second Strike for so long?

 

“Hmm, is it still not ready?”

 

“…!”

 

Still not ready?

 

What a strange question.

 

No, what an extremely sharp question.

 

It seemed like he knew that methods to compensate for the weakness hadn’t been researched for a long time.

 

Wei Zhongshan shook his head only after a long moment.

 

“No.”

 

“Then?”

 

“Partial use is possible.”

 

“Oh! Really?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

“That’s truly something to celebrate.”

 

Seeing Zhuge Munhyeon’s genuinely delighted expression, Wei Zhongshan became even more puzzled and was about to ask.

 

“But how do you…”

 

“Ah, let’s save that conversation for when we have time later.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“You know, don’t you? That my lifeline is currently hanging on this burning incense stick.”

 

“Ah….”

 

“If I delay any longer, I’ll be spitting blood from my seven orifices and dying. Shouldn’t we resolve this side first?”

 

“Hmm….”

 

At those words spoken with a slight smile, deep valleys like furrows were carved into Wi Jungsan’s brow.

 

A question he wanted to ask arose.

 

But he was currently engaged in the Clear Sky Duel.

 

To hear an answer, he would have to let him live.

 

Then what should he do?

 

He couldn’t deliberately lose to someone skilled enough to boast of their own strength.

 

That would be an act that disregards a martial artist’s pride.

 

It would be an act of deception.

 

It was then, as he agonized without being able to reach a conclusion.

 

“Don’t worry about it.”

 

“…?”

 

“You’ll need to do your best. If you don’t want to show a shameful display.”

 

“What are you saying?”

 

“What do you mean what am I saying? I told you. That I don’t have much time right now. So now I’m thinking of breaking through.”

 

“Break through?”

 

A hollow laugh escaped.

 

If that was something that could be done immediately just by deciding to do it, then why hadn’t he been able to pass by until now?

 

But Zhuge Munhyeon’s confident expression bothered him.

 

‘He believes it, he’s confident.’

 

Wi Jungsan found himself wanting to see it for some reason.

 

How this young martial artist would break through and pass by him.

 

“Though I liked your outstanding talent, I’m in no position to deliberately let you pass.”

 

“I understand.”

 

“Instead, I’ll use the same thing.”

 

“What? Is that necessary?”

 

“Necessary? Ha ha! You speak as if you’ve thought of a solution.”

 

“….”

 

“Then let’s see you try.”

 

The smile disappeared from Wi Jungsan’s face.

 

Having become serious, he concentrated much more than before and waited for Zhuge Munhyeon to come.

 

“Hmm.”

 

Zhuge Munhyeon frowned and hesitated for a moment.

 

Second Strike.

 

Though it was a technique that elevated the application of close combat by one level, created by giants who were once at the peak putting their heads together, it wasn’t without flaws.

 

Even excluding the internal energy aspects….</

 

But what could he do?

 

Right now, ending the Clear Sky Duel was more important.

 

“Good. Don’t regret this.”

 

“You’re the one who shouldn’t.”

 

“Well then, here I go!”

 

As he lowered his stance, his bent legs unfolded like a released bowstring, and Zhuge Munhyeon’s body shot forward at tremendous speed.

 

The distance closed in an instant, and Zhuge Munhyeon had already penetrated into Wi Jungsan’s chest area.

 

The first weakness of the Inch-Distance Second Strike, which cleverly utilizes spacing, is precisely that spacing.

 

If one penetrates deeply into the opponent’s embrace and engages in ultra-close combat, countermeasures become insufficient.

 

The martial art used was the Coagulated Blood Divine Claw.

 

The Golden Catching Hand that breaks the opponent’s joints.

 

“So confident, yet that’s all you could think of!”

 

As if he had long known Zhuge Munhyeon’s strategy, Wi Jungsan responded skillfully even at ultra-close range.

 

Though his available techniques were reduced, each one was an attack capable of inflicting fatal wounds.

 

Pak! Pa-pa-pak!

 

Hands crossed chaotically, and collision sounds spread in all directions.

 

Since it was a fight at barely an inch’s distance, to the onlookers it appeared as if they were stuck together, grappling back and forth.

 

Of course, the match couldn’t be decided easily with just that.

 

Wi Jungsan was truly an outstanding martial artist.

 

But the second weakness.

 

Pa-ba-bak!

 

Wi Jungsan’s eyes widened as he attacked, aiming for an opening.

 

His attack had been blocked.

 

No, it had been stopped.

 

“Th-this is dual defense?”

 

The moment he thought he had broken through Zhuge Munhyeon’s defense, Zhuge Munhyeon’s hand shot up quickly and wrapped around Wi Jungsan’s wrist. As if he had been waiting for this moment.

 

He couldn’t pull his caught hand free.

 

“…I’m sorry.”

 

“…”

 

A brief apology and a smile.

 

Wi Jungsan was lifted into the air with both wrists caught and spun in a large rotation.

 

Thud!

 

And then he fell to the ground.

 

Through the throbbing shock that made him grimace, he saw Zhuge Munhyeon’s figure.

 

He was standing.

 

Even though he could immediately attack with fists or feet, he was just quietly looking down.

 

And he extended his hand with a smile.

 

“That was quite a good match, wasn’t it?”

 

“…”

 

Wrinkles spread across Wi Jungsan’s face as he stared blankly at the brightly smiling figure.

 

He could have sprung up and fought again, but he didn’t.

 

He accepted his defeat with refreshing honesty.

 

It was neither shameful nor embarrassing.

 

Because he had done his best.

 

Thud.

 

Wi Jungsan unhesitatingly grasped Zhuge Munhyeon’s outstretched hand.

 

Rising from the pulling force, he straightened his disheveled clothes and brushed off the dirt.

 

And then.

 

“I lost.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

“Rather, I should be grateful. I won’t forget your final consideration.”

 

Wi Jungsan stepped back, performed a cupped fist salute, and bowed his head toward Zhuge Munhyeon.

 

The Clear Sky Duel had ended.

 

Zhuge Munhyeon turned and walked away, while Wi Jungsan’s head remained lowered for a long time.

 

Until the doors of the main pavilion opened wide and closed again.

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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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