Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 286

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

Chapter 286

Thud!

He was violently slammed down.

Not only did he fall on his back, but unluckily there happened to be a hard tree root right there…

“Gack!”

His breath was cut short and it felt like his spine was being crushed.

It felt as if his internal organs would burst out through his gaping mouth.

How long had it been?

Since he had suffered such pure pain.

The pain itself, now unfamiliar, felt strangely foreign to him.

Then, as the pain subsided a little, anger began to rise in its place.

He who had reached the Gang realm, he who would become the master of all mountains under heaven as the successor of the Green Forest…

“Wait just a moment.”

“…”

While he was still writhing in pain and hadn’t even managed to get up yet, Zhuge Munhyeon bent down and began picking up something.

Stones.

Then, with a contemplative expression, he walked around the area placing the stones he had gathered one by one.

Could it be a formation?

He said he’d kidnap me, so now he’s going to imprison me?

With just… a mere formation?

His anger amplified in an instant.

How dare this damn scholar bastard look down on him!

“Phew, that’s done.”

Unaware that Jin Yalim’s face was turning bright red with rage, Zhuge Munhyeon looked at the barrier formation he had just finished setting up and smiled with satisfaction.

As expected, after doing it several times, the installation time had shortened.

“I really need to learn barrier spells quickly, but why won’t it work?”

It was lamentable.

If he could properly master barrier spells, there would be no need to set up formations.

If he had known this would happen, he should have gotten a few barrier talismans from Huabuyuan.

Well, that was something he could ask for when they met again later.

Right now, conversation with the hostage came first.

“Now then, shall we have a cozy chat without interruption?”

“…”

“What are you doing? Come here. I won’t eat you.”

At his gesturing and smiling appearance, Jin Yalim, who had barely managed to suppress the pain and stand up, felt his insides boiling.

And.

“You fucking bastard!”

When angry, composure be damned.

His rage transformed into crude profanity that burst forth, and at the same time, the hand blade held in his palm shot out violently.

Swiiish!

The Gang Qi, transformed into a thinly condensed blade, cut through the forest.

Massive trees fell, and rocks were cleanly severed, leaving smooth cut surfaces.

Everything along the line drawn by his hand blade was split in two.

Gang Qi .

The strongest among the energies refined through the physical body, its cutting power could slice even black iron like tofu, and nothing under heaven could withstand it.

The only thing that could block Gang Qi was another user of Gang Qi.

But it seemed his power was woefully insufficient to cut Zhuge Munhyeon, even though it cut everything else.

Crack!

With a casual wave of his hand, the core of the Gang Qi broke pathetically with a ‘snap’ sound.

“I wish you’d just stay quiet, but you’re pointlessly rebelling and causing a fuss.”

Zhuge Munhyeon smiled while his mouth was full of irritation.

It was amazing.

To be able to block Gang Qi with just a gesture.

Normally in such cases, one would be awed by the opponent’s strength and become intimidated, or temporarily retreat to assess the situation.

Like a proper bandit, running away without looking back would also be one way to survive.

If Gang Qi didn’t work, just how strong could he be?

Of course, that was normally the case.

Jin Yalim, whose superiority complex built up over years had crumbled due to the pain of being slammed to the ground plus the humiliation of being no match for someone his age, was already unable to maintain his composure.

He couldn’t see even when looking, couldn’t hear even when listening.

He was no different from a wild boar wrapped in rage, charging recklessly without regard for anything.

“I’ll kill you!”

Jin Yalim let out a roar filled with fury and immediately drew his sword, unleashing all his skills without reservation.

Countless amounts of Gang Qi emanating from his sword flew in, blocking all directions.

He was strong.

Considering his age, he was worthy of competing with Mujin for the title of best under heaven.

He was someone whose future was very promising.

Of course, within the category of humans.

It might be different if he were operating the Small Heavenly Star Technique, but from the moment he breathed with the Embryonic Breathing method and handled spiritual energy, Zhuge Munhyeon had become virtually a Half-Immortal, so this was just nonsense to him.

Just wood? Rocks?

Not even close.

If Zhuge Munhyeon used his full power, he could flatten a mountain in no time.

Since he was growing stronger daily, he could crush Gang Qi of Jin Yalim’s level with a single wave of his hand.

However.

‘Oh? Look at this guy?’

He discovered something strange about Jin Yalim’s Gang Qi.

If he were to evaluate his realm, it was slightly beyond the realm of Formed Gang .

People lumped it all together and called it Gang Qi, but that was just a vague assessment by those who hadn’t achieved it.

Even within that, differences in realm existed like Chung, Hyeon, Tan, and Ui.

Sword Energy created when the purity of Sword Energy was further condensed at the extreme of Ui Qi, and False Gang that made tightly woven Sword Energy appear like Gang Qi.

And when the woven elements were fused into one, it was said that Gang Qi was finally achieved.

This stage was called Formed Gang.

While others praised even that one achievement as absolute, among Gang Qi masters it meant a complete beginner among beginners.

But this guy’s case was a bit different.

Though he hadn’t yet reached the next stage, another power was mixed into his Gang Qi, making it stronger than its original might.

‘Who on earth taught him such a method?’

If he had realized it alone, he could be called a genius, and if someone had taught him, it would surely be one of the immortals, yokai, or spirits.

Zhuge Munhyeon was curious about that.

The method of mixing spiritual energy with internal energy.

So it seemed fine to engage with him a little.

At least he had the skill worthy of Eunhangon’s favor.

“Hey! What’s wrong? Now that you’ve actually fought, he’s not so easy, is he?”

“…”

He was quite excited.

Since Zhuge Munhyeon was only dodging without responding to attacks to observe more, Jin Yalim seemed to be getting carried away.

This was why dealing with kids was difficult.

The moment they showed a little skill, they thought they were the best…

‘Tsk tsk, only his martial arts level has increased, but his character remains his age.’

Clicking his tongue, Zhuge Munhyeon pretended to be pushed back while dodging attacks, trying hard to figure out the identity of the energy contained in the Gang Qi.

“Huh?”

Then he saw it.

Though it was at a weak level that wasn’t easily noticeable, there was another energy that clawed once more at the places where the Gang Qi had cut through, creating wounds.

Wind?

Now that I look at it, Eunhangon seems to think the same.

The position of Son-gwe (☴) was glowing faintly.

It seems the light was weak because Jin Yalim’s power was too feeble.

Son and Jin are the positions of wood spirit energy.

In other words, there’s a high possibility that this guy was either born with wood spirit roots or acquired that power later.

But how exactly did he infuse wood spirit energy into his internal energy?

And why did the Yo and Goe leave this guy alone?

It’s power worth coveting… Could it be that mixing spirit energy with internal energy makes it undetectable? Or perhaps due to taboos, they judged him to be within human boundaries and couldn’t harm him?

It was when questions were piling upon questions.

“Hahaha! Hey, what’s wrong with you? Can’t find any way to respond? Try acting cocky like before!”

“…”

“I’ll definitely cut off your limbs, gouge out both your eyes, and rip out your tongue…”

Zhuge Munhyeon frowned at the sight of Jin Yalim pressing forward with glee.

This kid, since I went easy on him… his words are getting harsh?

Hmm, it would be better to make him docile first and then start a conversation.

If I let him rampage more, the forest will become a battlefield.

“First, take some hits.”

“Take hits? You crazy bastard! You can’t even properly counterattack, yet your mouth is the only thing alive…”

Jin Yalim, who thought Zhuge Munhyeon was bluffing, suddenly found himself speechless.

Zzzziiiiing!

The moment Eunhangon was swung, the Gang Qi that Jin Yalim had unleashed shattered into pieces.

Fragments of the broken Gang Qi poured down like starlight.

“Huh?”

The moment Jin Yalim made a dumbfounded expression, unable to contain his bewilderment.

“You’re too weak to practice immortal arts with… I’ll do it the most traditional way. Well, there’s nothing better for rebellious kids.”

Traditional… method?

An evil smile, and the moment his words ended, fire flashed before Jin Yalim’s eyes.

Thwack!

It felt like his head was splitting in half.

How exactly?

He couldn’t even see the movement…

That was as far as he could have doubts.

Before the shock to his head could fade, Zhuge Munhyeon’s Eunhangon approached, emitting a pale light as it began carving the martial technique called Continuous Strike onto Jin Yalim’s body.

Thwack-thwack-thwack-thwack-thwack!

He couldn’t block it, couldn’t dodge it.

It was simply a beating.

Within the brilliant light, he was thoroughly pummeled without knowing where or how he was being hit.

Ah… what a disaster.

Who was he?

He was a talent produced by the Green Forest, though despised for being bandits.

Despite being born with a nameless disease that others called heavenly punishment, he was a genius who created a new martial art called Wood Vein Hidden Flow from the traditional heart method of the Green Forest, the Blue Forest Hidden Blood Art.

Thanks to this, not only did he overcome the heavenly punishment, but he reached the realm of Gang Qi before turning thirty and gained the honor of becoming a Heavenly Gang Master.

He was the one who would become the master of the Green Forest in the future and unite all the mountains under heaven.

Perhaps he could even aim for the position of the greatest martial artist under heaven.

At least he thought he was the strongest among his peers.

But what the hell is this guy?

The Violent Dragon of the Zhuge Family.

A brat with a more youthful appearance than himself.

Yet incomparably strong.

Come to think of it, he seemed to have buttoned things wrong from the start.

When he shattered Gang Qi with his bare hands, he should have run away immediately…

But it was too late for regrets.

“Kyaaaah!”

Jin Yalim could do nothing but writhe and scream under the shining beating.

Though he was a man who knew no surrender, having overcome even his inborn heavenly punishment, he couldn’t think of any way to resist.

It’s all useless.

It’s futile, but it was a good life.

His consciousness is becoming distant.

His vision is blurring, which is truly fortunate.

He won’t have to see that damn Violent Dragon brat anymore…

Slap!

“…!”

Jin Yalim, who was losing consciousness, suddenly opened his eyes wide.

His cheek burns.

As he blinked several times, he saw a face with long hair hanging down in his vision.

Beautiful.

An appearance that doesn’t seem human.

Ah, so I was beaten to death by that damn bastard after all.

But to meet a fairy…

How fortunate to come to such a good place.

Jin Yalim, wearing a faint smile, tried to speak to the fairy looking down at him.

But then.

“Master, this person is awake. Should I beat him more?”

“…”

The fairy asked someone with a bright smile.

What is she saying?

Master?

Is that how they address the Jade Emperor?

Jin Yalim, who hadn’t fully regained his senses yet, turned his head toward where the fairy was looking.

A familiar face.

A grinning smile.

Zhuge…

“Damn it!”

His face naturally contorted and curses immediately burst out.

At that moment.

Slap!

His head spun violently.

Perhaps because he had regained consciousness, an even more burning pain remained on his cheek than before.

“A bandit who doesn’t know the grace of being spared dares to curse at Master!”

He’s bewildered.

The fairy suddenly got angry.

Why?

“Say hello, this is our Slapper. Her real name is Dan Yeonhwa. I just found out too, but her slapping skills are excellent.”

“…”

“But it seems you haven’t been hit enough yet? Judging by how you’re cursing as soon as you wake up. Well, it’s hard for a person to change all at once.”

Zhuge Munhyeon approached holding Eunhangon, which held a subtle light.

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