Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 180

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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 180

 

Sunlight pours in through the open door.

 

The space brightens as the darkness that had filled it is pushed away.

 

At the far end, in contrast to where the sunlight lingered, Dan Chuyeong’s piercing eyes could be seen sitting in the deepened shadows.

 

He was like a wild beast guarding its own den.

 

Of course, Zhuge Munhyeon’s impression was.

 

‘…This little brat keeps staring at me.’

 

But what could he do?

 

Right now, he was the leader of one of Yunnan’s most prominent ruling forces, while he himself was just a kid from the Zhuge Family.

 

Turning his head to glance aside, he saw incense burning away.

 

Two marks remained.

 

It seemed quite a bit of time had passed while fighting Wei Zhongshan.

 

‘Well, I did get lost in old memories for a while and lost track of time.’

 

Though about thirty minutes still remained, there was no need to wait until the incense burned completely.

 

Why would he play games with his life?

 

“Quite impressive. I knew you had outstanding talent, but I didn’t expect you to pass through the Cheongcheon Resolution so easily. I even wondered if I could have done it myself.”

 

“…First, please give me the antidote.”

 

Though Dan Chuyeong expressed admiration, Zhuge Munhyeon frowned and demanded what he wanted first.

 

Did he find that answer bold?

 

“Pfft!”

 

Dan Chuyeong, who had been maintaining a serious attitude, suddenly burst into laughter.

 

“Puhahahaha!”

 

“…”

 

The burst of laughter didn’t subside for quite a while.

 

It was because this was an unexpected reaction.

 

Asking for the antidote.

 

Not being intimidated in the slightest.

 

Then Dan Chuyeong abruptly stopped laughing and leaned forward, gripping the armrests with both hands as he spoke.

 

“You’re an amazing fellow.”

 

“I’m truly grateful that you think so highly of me.”

 

“Really amazing. How exactly can you be like that?”

 

“…”

 

Zhuge Munhyeon’s face grew more distorted at Dan Chuyeong’s continued expressions of admiration.

 

This bastard keeps dragging out time.

 

Even if it’s someone else’s life, still.

 

“Are you deliberately stalling for time? Thinking I’ll become more polite than now if the Myeolsin poison acts up?”

 

“No, no. A person can’t change their inborn nature. From what I can see, you’re not the type to cower even if beaten.”

 

“How could that be? I also know to control my bodily functions.”

 

“Pfft, puhahahaha! Are you trying to hide that in front of me?”

 

“….”

 

Dan Chuyeong abruptly stopped laughing, narrowed his eyes, and spoke.

 

Eye light flashed in both eyes, and his lowered voice that growled like a threat was like that of a predator before its prey.

 

“People always dream of being strong against the strong and being able to embrace the weak. Because they know that’s right. But that’s just what they think – reality is different. They become infinitely weak before the strong and become even more arrogant before the weak.”

 

“I’m the same way.”

 

“How could that be? If you were that kind of person, could you have been so confident when you first saw me? You’re someone who strives to become strong against the strong. The kind who trains himself terrifyingly hard so as not to bow his head to the strong.”

 

“This is the first time we’re facing each other and talking properly, but you think too highly of me.”

 

“I can’t help but think highly of you, since you possess energy that hasn’t undergone Power Dispersal yet didn’t use it even once while passing through the Cheongcheon Resolution.”

 

“…What?”

 

“Did you think I wouldn’t know?”

 

“….”

 

He was completely speechless.

 

How did this guy know that?

 

Could he have sensed the Spirit Energy?

 

That’s impossible.

 

Spirit Energy is different from Internal Energy – it absolutely cannot be detected unless one has learned the same thing.

 

He himself had been the same way.

 

So he decided to deflect for now.

 

The Cheongcheon Resolution was a test where one had to fight barehanded, so if it was discovered that he possessed other powers… Ah, damn it. Why is everything getting so complicated again?

 

“…I already drank the Myeolsin poison.”

 

“I know, I know.”

 

“But you say I have power that hasn’t undergone Power Dispersal?”

 

“Hmm… Are you going to make excuses?”

 

“It’s not making excuses….”

 

“I am the Beast Palace Master.”

 

“….”

 

He was speechless again.

 

The words “Beast Palace Master” – born simultaneously with choosing a beast no different from a spirit creature as a lifelong companion and forming a bond with it.

 

What exactly is a spirit creature?

 

A beast that contains Spirit Energy within its body.

 

If he’s a Beast Palace Master accustomed to beast instincts, he would be more than capable of sensing it.

 

‘Damn… What do I do now?’

 

Countless thoughts flashed through Zhuge Munhyeon’s mind as he concealed his feelings while wearing a faint smile.

 

He couldn’t fight the Beast Palace Master.

 

His Internal Energy was scattered and the Spirit Energy remaining in his body was weak.

 

He would be no match.

 

Meanwhile, time was passing and the incense was burning toward its end.

 

He had no choice but to gamble….

 

“Then… does that mean my completion of the Cheongcheon Resolution becomes invalid?”

 

“Invalid?”

 

“Yes, since you’ve already sensed it, there’s no need to deceive you. Palace Master, you are correct. My internal energy has disappeared, but another power remains.”

 

Zhuge Munhyeon confessed honestly.

 

The judgment was his to make.

 

Perhaps this was what the true Cheongcheon Resolution was like.

 

The result lay in the hands of Heaven, no, in the hands of the Beast Palace Master.

 

“…Why do you think that?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“Why do you think your completion of the Cheongcheon Resolution would be invalidated?”

 

“Because my power wasn’t dispersed. Although I didn’t utilize that energy, I still broke the rule of facing it with my bare body.”

 

“Hmm, I see. You only knew that the Cheongcheon Resolution existed, but you didn’t know the details.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“Who told you that the Cheongcheon Resolution only has meaning when your power is dispersed?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“The condition only goes as far as drinking the poison. Whether you achieve immunity to all poisons and avoid power dispersal, or whether other powers remain, it doesn’t matter at all.”

 

“Ah…”

 

Was that so?

 

Then that was fortunate.

 

It was embarrassing that he had been contemplating which part of the Beast Palace Master would be best to attack.

 

“I have many things I want to ask, but let’s postpone our conversation for a moment.”

 

“…?”

 

“Bring the antidote.”

 

When Dan Chuyeong spoke toward somewhere, a small door leading outside the Great Hall opened and a woman entered carrying a bowl on a small table.

 

“Thank you.”

 

When Zhuge Munhyeon took the bowl containing the medicine from the small table and expressed his gratitude, the woman smiled gently and withdrew.

 

Dan Chuyeong chuckled and said.

 

“You show courtesy even to servant girls.”

 

“It’s just her job, but she’s still a person.”

 

“Hmm… The more I see of you, the more interesting you become. The other scions of prestigious families I’ve encountered seemed a bit different.”

 

“At least I am like this. And my family clan teaches this way as well.”

 

At Zhuge Munhyeon’s answer, Dan Chuyeong wore a satisfied expression for some reason.

 

Generally, a person’s status is divided according to where they were born, their family clan, and the position they acquired later in life.

 

They are evaluated and treated accordingly.

 

The position of servant girl is ignored by everyone, and looking down on them is considered natural.

 

That was the norm.

 

But from Zhuge Munhyeon’s perspective, it was different.

 

The environment he had lived in was like that.

 

The kidnapped boy endured cultivation with his life and gradually obtained higher positions. Eventually, he became a sect leader and stood tall in the highest position.

 

Innate destiny?

 

Such things were useless.

 

How could they divide people by such things when no one knew who would have what, or what kind of life they would live?

 

It was a philosophy he had always held.

 

“…She is my daughter.”

 

“Ah…”

 

It truly was a good philosophy.

 

If he had acted carelessly, something really bad could have happened.

 

Zhuge Munhyeon wanted to praise himself immensely for that one moment of restraint.

 

“Drink it. The seizure will begin soon.”

 

“I suppose I should. I can’t stain your quarters with blood.”

 

At Dan Chuyeong’s words, Zhuge Munhyeon emptied the medicine in the bowl in one gulp and sat in meditation.

 

Now he needed to circulate his qi.

 

He had to drive out the poison with the medicine’s power and gather his scattered internal energy.

 

As qi circulation began, the smile lingering on Dan Chuyeong’s lips deepened.

 

“What an enviably bold fellow.”

 

It was natural admiration.

 

In a way, this place was no different from enemy territory, and in a situation where someone might cause harm, he hadn’t expected the young man to immediately begin qi circulation.

 

Was he fearless?

 

Or did he trust her?

 

It was probably both.

 

He seemed reckless but wasn’t truly reckless – that kind of person.

 

“To think someone could make me feel good just by trusting me… The Zhuge Family has raised quite a fine junior scholar. Makes me rather envious.”

 

Dan Chuyeong looked toward a corner of her quarters.

 

Whether Zhuge Munhyeon knew or not, there was another person in the quarters. It was the Seventh Master.

 

She had already suppressed his pressure points and demon pressure points so he could neither make sound nor move.

 

“Seventh Master, perhaps your lifeline has become tougher than before. Though I haven’t had a chance to converse with this fellow yet.”

 

“…”

 

At Dan Chuyeong’s words, the Seventh Master could only glare with wide eyes.

 

Had he really come to rescue him?

 

He had been observing since the moment Zhuge Munhyeon entered, but this was someone he was seeing for the first time.

 

Well, when he knew no one in the Zhuge Clan, how could he recognize a young junior scholar?

 

However, according to Tam Group Leader Maeng Hun’s report, he had been searching for him at Byeoksan Mountain.

 

So he was curious.

 

For what reason was he requesting even the Cheongcheon Resolution from the Beast Palace to meet him?

 

Of course, for now he could only watch.

 

Until the Beast Palace Master gave permission, he couldn’t speak or move, so he had no choice but to stake his fate on the young man.

 

Right now, he was no different from heaven who would decide his treatment.

 

* * *

 

Mujin paced back and forth constantly.

 

With the Cheongcheon Resolution begun and effectively forced to remain in the Guest Reception Hall.

 

He couldn’t tell how things were unfolding.

 

How had it turned out?

 

Was Zhuge Munhyeon doing well?

 

He trusted his abilities since he had watched him closely all this time, but the opponent was the Beast Palace.

 

A place that could stand shoulder to shoulder with the strongest of the Central Plains without falling short.

 

Worrying was inevitable.

 

Crunch, crunch.

 

He had already bitten his nails so many times that he was about to develop a habit he never had before.

 

“Master Mujin.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Will he be alright?”

 

When Tang Ihwa asked worriedly, Mujin shook his head firmly with a stern expression.

 

“He’ll be fine.”

 

“….”

 

“He’s not weak enough to be broken by the Beast Palace. He will definitely overcome this! Believe in him!”

 

“But the Beast Palace is a place with martial prowess that rivals our family clan. Such people wouldn’t test him carelessly….”

 

“Miss Tang! Don’t say such things! Young Master Munhyeon will definitely overcome this!”

 

“I want to believe that too… but you seem too anxious.”

 

“…Me?”

 

“You’ve been pacing around since earlier and your nails….”

 

“Wh-when did I!”

 

“….”

 

Though Mujin even raised his voice in protest, Tang Ihwa didn’t look convinced.

 

That’s when it happened.

 

Slam!

 

The door of the Guest Reception Hall swung wide open and warriors from the Beast Palace entered.

 

It felt like his breath stopped.

 

His heart pounded with tension and his eyes widened.

 

All his nerves focused on the warrior’s lips.

 

As if time had slowed down.

 

“…The Palace Master requests your presence.”

 

“The Palace Master… then Young Master Munhyeon is…!”

 

“He has passed the Cheongcheon Resolution and is with the Palace Master.”

 

“…Ahhhh.”

 

Mujin, who had been tensed up, collapsed as his legs gave out the moment those words ended.

 

His long cultivation and his determination to never lose to anyone were useless when relief came flooding in.

 

“Ma-Master!”

 

Startled, Tang Ihwa quickly supported him.

 

“I’m fine. I’m alright.”

 

“….”

 

He didn’t look okay at all.

 

Having collapsed where he sat, he showed no intention of getting up even when his arm was pulled.

 

“See? I told you to trust me, didn’t I?”

 

“….”

 

Only then, faced with Mujin’s brightly smiling figure, Tang Yihwa said nothing and only wore a bitter smile.

 

Such bravado….

 

But still, who would have thought that Zhuge Munhyeon would actually pass the Beast Palace’s trial.

 

‘He really isn’t an ordinary person.’

 

She found herself thinking he was truly remarkable.

 

However.

 

“…Um, the Palace Master is asking for you, so shouldn’t you get up soon?”

 

“Th-that’s… I can’t feel any strength in my legs.”

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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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