Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 70

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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 70

 

 

The clear sky is endlessly vast and clouds drift leisurely by.

As if unconcerned with worldly affairs, they simply go their own way, appearing peaceful.

Looking up at them, time seems to stop in such tranquility that it makes one forget all troubles.

But staring too long makes the eyes sting.

The neck also aches.

So when I lowered my head, the world beneath the quiet sky was turning breathlessly.

“Ugh.”

“Grr…”

“Uup.”

Each with their own distinctive groans.

Their outstretched arms trembled violently, and their bent legs supporting their bodies were shaking.

Gwan Hwiping’s appearance, sweating like rain, was so frantic…

It was truly a scene contrasting with the sky, but isn’t that the world on the ground where people live?

“Hey, arms! Hold them up properly.”

Zhuge Munhyeon, who had been reading a book at his study desk, frowned at their frantic inability to resemble the sky.

‘Damn bastard!’

‘Devil’s spawn!’

‘That guy just sits there reading books!’

He heard all their muttering, but cleanly ignored it as if he hadn’t heard.

Right, they should complain.

That way it would be a little less tiring.

Zhuge Munhyeon turned his head to look at one corner of the courtyard.

Unlike Gwan Hwiping, a man who had removed his iron rings for once and sat peacefully under the shade of the ginkgo tree with a tranquil expression.

It was Zhuge Munho.

The reason he wasn’t made to train with Gwan Hwiping was because he was now standing at the crossroads of his lifetime.

Right at that crossroads from Hyeon to Tan, from first-rate to supreme level.

After the annihilation of the Soul Melting Chamber, it had been about a year since he received the Small Heavenly Star Technique from Zhuge Munhyeon.

Though Zhuge Munhyeon’s teachings that stuck in his ears were accompanied by deadly training, achieving a new realm in such a short time was never an easy task.

“He’s definitely better than Gwan Hwiping.”

Watching him was truly gratifying.

When descendants of the Zhuge Family chose their path, most of those who took the martial path did so because they couldn’t find other talents.

Lacking in scholarship, having no talent for formations or mechanisms, and not being good at mathematics either.

In other words… they were stupid.

Limited to the Zhuge Family.

If you looked into it, those guys had all finished the Thousand Character Classic at age seven and read Elementary Learning…

Anyway, among those who chose the martial path, Zhuge Munho possessed quite outstanding talent.

Should I say he was worth teaching?

He understood immediately when told, and possessed the sincerity to work hard even cutting back on sleep.

So wouldn’t his achievements be extraordinary?

Meanwhile, his master was the Heavenly Demon who had converted to the orthodox path.

It was while he was looking at him with satisfaction.

Zhuge Munho, who had been regulating his breathing and stabilizing his internal energy, slowly opened his eyes.

‘Ho?’

Not bad.

Those eyes were as calm as a windless lake.

His energy was clearly well-gathered, which raised expectations.

What a strange feeling.

Who would have thought that seeing a student achieve something would feel more joyful than my own achievements?

Both Zhuge Munhyeon and Gwan Hwiping, who had been practicing horse stance, focused their gazes with anticipation that something was about to happen.

Zhuge Munho slowly stood up, drew his sword, and looked at the nearby wall with a calm expression.

“Huu…”

There was no tremor in his breathing.

As if steeling his resolve, he pressed his lips tightly together, and a bright blue energy rippled and bloomed, overlaying his sword.

Refined sword energy.

My heart was pounding.

Please, please…

At the moment I was anxiously hoping for success, Zhuge Munho’s sword, which had taken a low stance, traced a concise trajectory.

Swish!

The sword energy that had been extending along the sword drew an arc and separated with a snap.

This was the crucial moment.

Energy naturally disperses when its connection to the caster is severed.

However, if it goes through a condensation process, it can maintain its form briefly and travel a certain distance to have an effect – that is precisely Tan.

Depending on the degree of training in condensing energy, that distance ranges from right in front of one’s eyes to as far as dozens of zhang.

And now!

The sword energy discharged from Zhuge Munho’s sword was flying toward the wall.

Though it gradually dispersed and its form became distorted.

Crack!

It left a small sword mark on the wall that was a full zhang (3m) away.

Success.

Zhuge Munho had finally reached the realm of Tan Qi.

“Th-this is…?”

He seemed surprised himself.

“Whoa! Did it work?”

“Tan Qi?”

“Really?”

Gwan Hwiping’s eyes widened and his posture collapsed.

Well, what of it?

Good events need many spectators, so let’s leave him be even if he stopped training for a moment.

“Munhyeon… I, did I?”

“That’s right. That’s Tan Qi. You did really well for a first time. And congratulations. You’ve entered Tan Qi.”

Zhuge Munhyeon didn’t spare his praise with a satisfied expression.

“Ah…”

Only after hearing those words did emotion appear on Zhuge Munho’s face, as if he truly realized his achievement.

Well, what words could touch the heart more than a master’s(?) recognition?

“Thank you. Really thank you, Munhyeon. To think I’ve reached Tan Qi…”

Zhuge Munho, unable to hide his excitement, looked as if he might cry at any moment.

How could he not be happy?

It wouldn’t be strange if he flew away right now.

A Tan Qi martial artist could be considered a very precious resource in the current Zhuge Family.

He was at the level of a Hyeonho Unit group leader, that is, the same level as the weakest elder.

Excluding Zhuge Munhyeon, the highest master was only at the Ui Qi level.

He had broken through that remarkable realm in just one year.

“Elder Brother Munho.”

“Yeah!”

“Now that you’ve reached Tan Qi, you’ll need to cultivate its practical applications.”

“Applications?”

“That’s right. Tan isn’t just about shooting internal energy outward. For instance, boiling or cooling water in a cup, striking objects behind walls, and even the Penetration Technique where you implant energy inside a person’s body to explode it—the applications are endless. Only when you can skillfully use all of these according to the situation do you become a true supreme master.”

“Ah…”

“I congratulate you, but there’s still a long way to go.”

“Yeah!”

“You’re not cultivating martial arts just to become the Zhuge Family’s strongest, right?”

“…”

“Ui Qi, Gang Qi. There’s much to obtain, and that path requires far more effort and cultivation than now. You understand what I mean, right?”

“Yeah!”

At Zhuge Munhyeon’s words, Zhuge Munho answered energetically like a much younger brother.

Having experienced success, he knew.

That there had been countless failures before that…

“Good, then shall we skip cultivation today and have a celebratory drink?”

“Celebratory drink?”

“Such a joyful day should naturally be commemorated.”

“Yeah!”

Zhuge Munho didn’t feel like cultivating today either. His heart was extremely excited.

“Where shall we go?”

“I know a good place, shall we go there?”

“Wow, truly amazing. Tan Qi.”

“…”

Gwan Hwiping approached while sparing no encouragement toward Zhuge Munho.

“Hm? Why are you guys?”

“Huh?”

“It’s Munho who achieved Tan Qi, so why are you guys worrying about where to go?”

At Zhuge Munhyeon’s words, Gwan Hwiping showed a momentarily dazed expression before speaking playfully.

“Haha, this guy really. What kind of joke is that?”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

“Of course we should celebrate together.”

Gwan Hwiping was giggling, but Zhuge Munhyeon tilted his head sideways.

“Joke? Me?”

“…”

“My goodness, when one thing jumps, another follows… You elder brothers are seriously delusional. Only Munho is taking a break from cultivation.”

“What?”

“You guys who slack off every day and only just learned to draw sword energy… Take a break from cultivation? Don’t even dream of it, you bastards.”

“Ah, no, Munhyeon? Still, such a joyful occasion…”

“Horse stance.”

“…”

“And continue formation cultivation. I’ll check when I return. You understand what I mean, right?”

“Mu, Munhyeon.”

“It’s not a joke. If you slack off while I’m gone…”

When Zhuge Munhyeon smiled and tapped the Silver Cold Staff, Gwan Hwiping’s face rotted with displeasure.

‘Damn bastard!’

‘A guy even dogs wouldn’t bite!’

‘It’s favoritism! Favoritism! How bad is that.’

Despite their complaints and grievances, they had no choice but to take the horse stance again.

Since the Silver Cold Staff was glinting before their eyes…

Also, they had already seen it.

Zhuge Munho, who had been cultivating with them, had reached the level of Tan Qi in just over a year.

They too were cultivating the Small Heavenly Star Technique and receiving teachings under Zhuge Munhyeon.

‘We too…’

‘Definitely!’

‘Will receive favoritism!’

Zhuge Munho’s success approached as a catalyst, and they would now slack off less.

Somewhat lacking guys.

But guys who were gradually improving.

They too deserved praise, but not right now.

“Let’s go.”

“…Yeah.”

Zhuge Munho, following Zhuge Munhyeon who coldly left the manor, kept turning his head toward his younger brothers, feeling sorry.

 

* * *

 

Below Yungzhong Mountain, there wasn’t only the Zhuge Family.

Around the main road extending far to the main house’s manor, branch family descendants’ manors lined up in rows, and beyond that, village houses were densely packed.

The manor where Zhuge Munhyeon lived was also located a bit away from the main house, and he didn’t bother going to the main house unless specifically called.

Recently, even the Military Strategy Hall hadn’t called him.

Father still seemed unwilling to give up the idea of making him a formation master, but by the Family Head’s order, he could focus solely on cultivation.

He probably thought that would be much more beneficial for the family.

Both Zhuge Munhyeon and the four cultivating with him.

Thanks to this, except for cultivation time, he could live more freely than others.

Of course, in reality, he was spending time much more systematically than being affiliated somewhere…

Leaving the manor, Zhuge Munhyeon looked at the scene of people coming and going on the main road.

“Peaceful.”

“This is all thanks to you.”

“Me?”

“Yeah. The income coming from Dangang District is enormous.”

“Hmm.”

Recently, the Zhuge Family’s income had increased.

Because of the Dangang District waterway rights.

Even sending part of it to the Wudang Sect was tremendously helpful to their finances.

And as money overflowed, the Family Head made a special decision.

Tax reduction.

Naturally, people operating Zhuge Family-owned shops near Yungzhong Mountain and farming that land could only be happy.

Who would dislike having taxes lowered?

‘Anyway, he takes all the credit for achievements I established.’

That point was very displeasing.

“Oh my! Young Master Munhyeon, you’ve come out?”

“Hello.”

“Won’t you have a meal before going?”

“Next time.”

“Please do stop by!”

Since everyone he met greeted him first, he decided to let it slide.

It felt good.

In his previous life, they would immediately prostrate and tremble whenever they saw him…

This must be the joy of living in harmony.

With a pleasant heart, he was entering the small alley that split like a spider web, looking for the tavern he and Zhuge Munho always went to.

“Hm? Why are so many people gathered like that?”

“Really?”

Discovering that people had gathered in droves at the alley entrance, Zhuge Munhyeon tilted his head.

“Myosu Dongja came?”

“Yeah! It looks like they’re going to have a proper match? Yang Nodae seems to have really sharpened his blade.”

“Let’s go take a look.”

Even the people nearby rush over in a crowd.

But Myosu Dongja?

What a strange name.

It makes passersby curious for no reason…

“Should we go take a look too?”

“Sure.”

Zhuge Munhyeon followed behind the people.

Inside the packed crowd, at the place where a Go board was set up, sat an old man and a boy wearing a snow-white scholar’s robe.

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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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