Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 80

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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 80

 

 

“Well then, shall we continue where we left off? Though the mood has been somewhat dampened.”

As Zhuge Munhyeon approached, So Rokpa couldn’t help but grimace.

 

The Zhuge are weak in martial arts.

They are a family of strategists who only excel in formation techniques and mechanisms.

 

Everyone says so.

And that’s how they’ve appeared until now.

Once a prestigious family that stood equal to the Namgung Family, they were the first to walk the path of decline when the Orthodox Alliance collapsed, isolated by the unorthodox forces that rose in various regions, waiting only for their day of ruin.

But just one clash.

That was enough to completely change all the thoughts he’d held about the Zhuge Family.

They’re strong.

Not just strong in formation techniques and mechanisms, but strong in martial arts too.

A single young warrior had blocked fifty members of the Azure Sky Sword Corps, whom he was confident had no match.

Of course, there could be anomalies.

It’s possible for one person to be born with talent.

But the warriors of similar age who had appeared just moments ago.

Though not quite at Zhuge Munhyeon’s level, they had accurately read and broken through the flow of the Azure Sky Sword Formation. Each one’s skill was on par with the Azure Sky Sword Corps.

Considering their age, their abilities were far superior to any of the Namgung Family’s later generation disciples.

Could anomalies really be born all at once in a single generation?

He couldn’t think so.

The Zhuge Family had steadily overcome their weaknesses and laid the foundation for their revival.

‘Damn it…’

Trapped by prejudice, I failed to properly assess the Zhuge.

So Rokpa slowly surveyed his surroundings.

Twenty dead, none killed on their side.

The injuries of the remaining were also severe.

‘To think we’d suffer such damage from a single clash, and against just five people.’

They couldn’t afford any more losses.

He needed to buy time.

At least until the remaining fifty vanguard troops who had left to attack the Anryuk Branch could join them.

“Everyone, fall back.”

“…?”

“Collect the bodies and treat the wounded.”

At So Rokpa’s words, the Namgung Family warriors who had been watching for cues bowed their heads and retreated.

“Oh? I thought you were trying to drain my strength by using your subordinates… but it looks like you’re going to step forward yourself?”

“I acknowledge your skill.”

“How grateful. But will you be alright alone? I don’t mind, so team up with your subordinates. Don’t regret it later.”

“Arrogant bastard.”

“Arrogant?”

He couldn’t help but laugh.

Arrogance is something only those without skill possess.

Not knowing that he hadn’t even shown his full power yet.

“I am So Rokpa, Third Captain of the Namgung Family’s Azure Sky Sword Corps.”

Stepping forward in front of Zhuge Munhyeon, he revealed his name and position.

That was tantamount to saying he would give his all against Zhuge Munhyeon.

That would be truly appreciated.

The feeling from when he fought the Nine Wall Sword still lingered.

It had been so long since he’d fought a proper warrior that he’d been too excited to control his strength.

“So Rokpa? You must be from a branch family?”

“That’s right.”p>

“An outsider then. Impressive, to have risen to the leadership of the Azure Sky Sword Corps in a bloodline-centered family.”

“I used to think so. But seeing you makes me deny all the thoughts I’ve held until now.”

“Don’t feel too much self-loathing. It’s because I’m an exceptionally outstanding person.”

“I acknowledge it. You’ve shown that you’re strong enough.”

So Rokpa gripped his sword with both hands, pointing it forward as he calmly drew up his internal energy.

The area around his body shimmered like heat waves, and a strange fervor dwelt in his coldly sunken gaze.

Before long, carelessness had vanished from his eyes.

His presence was quite impressive.

He probably realized it.

That he wasn’t weak enough to be easily dealt with, and that with Zhuge Munho and others added, the situation had become extremely unfavorable.

He must be angry.

The Namgung’s main force had been pushed back by just four people.

But he judged coolly.

It was surely a ploy to buy time until reinforcements arrived.

He knew it, and yet knowing it… he wanted to fight.

Another sword of Namgung.

His heart raced.

As always…

Zhuge Munhyeon grinned widely and pointed his Silver Cold Staff straight forward as he spoke.

“Come at me, I’ll yield the first move.”

Though he might have been offended by the words from a young junior, So Rokpa didn’t get angry. He had already acknowledged his strength.

“I won’t refuse!”

Having been given the first move, he immediately rushed forward, shifting his center of gravity ahead.

Where his approaching feet touched left no traces. Light and swift.

But why?

Namgung’s Boundless Azure Sky shouldn’t be constrained by distance?

The moment he harbored that doubt, his sword rode the flow of air as it was swung.

Swish!

With a faint sound, the sword instantly slashed toward his nape.

‘Ch-Cheonpung?’

Startled, Zhuge Munhyeon quickly jerked his head back and leaned his upper body away.

His nape stung.

Though the sword hadn’t touched him, the internal energy contained within had grazed him.

But the sword was still alive.

The curved trajectory quickly returned, flying in as if to slash his entire body to pieces.

This flow, it was indeed Cheonpung.

The three sword techniques representing Namgung.

Jewang (Emperor), Boundless Azure Sky, and Cheonpung (Heavenly Wind).

Jewang is the direct lineage’s sword technique.

Difficult and troublesome to learn with no one having mastered it, but if one reaches its meaning, they could truly be called the emperor of swords.

Boundless Azure Sky is the sword technique most commonly learned by Namgung Family warriors, having been researched in various ways for a long time and could be called the mainstream.

Being popular, many have pioneered the path of swordsmanship through it, and quite a few warriors have shaken All Under Heaven.

But Cheonpung.

Only a chosen few learn it. Because one must be born with a body capable of containing the aura of sword techniques.

However, once learned, it’s no less than Jewang or Boundless Azure Sky, and among those who have learned it, there are no weaklings.

Claaang!

So Rokpa’s sword strike collided with Zhuge Munhyeon’s Silver Cold Staff and was deflected.

The energy contained in the sword was considerable.

Though it appeared light and soft on the surface, the shock of impact made his wrist tingle, bringing back memories of someone who had practiced the same martial arts in the past.

One day, after finishing martial duels while traveling the Central Plains and finding no more worthy opponents, he returned to the Demonic Sect when a man came looking for it.

Jinpungrang Namgung Hyo.

He said he had left his family for cultivation and came after hearing rumors about him.

At first, he could only laugh in derision.

He thought it was just another fool who came seeking to make a name for himself.

But after crossing swords with him, he realized.

If a sword could become human, it would be just like that bastard.

The sword that flew like brushing against the grain of wind cut through flesh and left countless wounds.

It was a troublesome sword.

Because it read the flow.

Since it was wielded naturally following the flow, it was difficult to block even when predicted. Above all, that bastard was reading even the flow of his own movements.

Only after fighting for half a day trapped by that damned sword technique could he finally achieve victory, and he treated him as a guest, discussing martial arts for a long time.

And now, he had met a descendant who learned that sword again.

But why…

Why was his sword not properly inherited? He had inwardly expected much knowing it was Cheonpung.

It wasn’t because his level was low or his internal energy was lacking.

So Rokpa didn’t properly understand the essence of the sword technique.

‘It’s regression, you fool. At least the Boundless Azure Sky that Nine Wall Sword used seemed to have achieved many changes.’

His heart that had inwardly expected their sword techniques to have grown stronger than before completely withered. His excitement had long since calmed down.

After being torn apart individually, the Namgung must have had to decide their own direction to advance.

They probably focused on the Boundless Azure Sky sword technique that the most martial artists had learned. That would have been most suitable for building the family’s strength. Therefore, Cheonpung would have been abandoned like Zhuge’s Small Heavenly Star Technique.

How regrettable.

He had expected the swiftness of Cheonpung like before.

How could such a good sword be passed down to later generations yet not develop but regress instead?

His excitement cooled down completely.

He could no longer find a reason to continue crossing swords.

Claaang!

Zhuge Munhyeon’s expression looked quite displeased as he forcefully parried the sharply cutting sword strike and stepped back.

Soon he asked.

“…Is that all you have?”

“What did you say?”

“The hands that play upon a musician’s strings must flow with the melody to produce good sound. Your sword should be the same. But why did you abandon the good and take the useless?”

“…!”

“You abandoned swiftness and took heaviness, forgetting the essence. That’s why you can no longer develop…”

Though it was a pitying remark, So Rokpa lost the composure he had maintained until now.

Zhuge Munhyeon’s words now were the same as his master who had taught him.

That if one pursued only strength, the sword would become duller.

But he had walked a different path from that teaching.

Thanks to pursuing strength, thanks to adding the power of internal energy to the Cheonpung sword, he had been victorious all along.

Despite being from a branch line, he proudly held the position of deputy commander of the Blue Sky Sword Corps and was competing with the Namgung family’s bloodline.

But what?

What about a musician’s performance?

Zhuge Munhyeon’s words touched the deep wound in his heart from turning away from his master.

Just like his master back then.

As if teaching him… as if pitying him…

“What do you know to be babbling like that!”

“…”

“Did you think you’d look like something by mimicking adults, you brat?”

Zhuge Munhyeon frowned at So Rokpa’s appearance, grinding his teeth and shouting in anger.

As expected…

His ears were completely blocked.

As a senior who had lived several generations ahead, he had enlightened him about his shortcomings, yet instead of being grateful…

“Hah, fine. Fine. What did I expect from someone full of stubbornness…”

“What’s wrong?”

“Since words don’t get through, I’ll make you feel it with your body!”

Zhuge Munhyeon’s aura completely changed as he looked at the bristling So Rokpa with cold eyes.

His steps became lighter, and his movements naturally blended with the wind.

“Th-this is?”

So Rokpa couldn’t help but recognize it.

The movements Zhuge Munhyeon was displaying now were similar to his own.

Though it was the Small Heaven Star Sword rather than Cheonpung, the sword fluttered like fallen leaves swaying in a gentle breeze.

And such a sight further provoked So Rokpa’s anger.

“You bastard! Did you think mimicry would work!”

So Rokpa’s rage burst out all at once.

Whoooong!

Unable to withstand the tremendous amount of internal energy contained within, his sword cried out.

Flash!

The sword light colored the world like lightning, soon flying with tremendous wind.

“Fool… I told you so.”

Zhuge Munhyeon’s eyes flashed.

His posture lowered, and his foot extended long.

Watch well, child.

This is the method of riding the flow that I learned through martial duels with Namgung Hyo.

The path my sword must take, and the direction the opponent’s movements want to flow. A sword technique that encompasses all of that.

Whoooong!

The moment So Rokpa’s sword strike, enlarged by containing energy, didn’t cut or slice Zhuge Munhyeon’s body but struck like a giant hammer.

“…!”

Zhuge Munhyeon’s form scattered before his eyes.

Wh-where?

But without time to search.

Thwaaack!

The briefly swung Silver Cold Staff powerfully struck his jaw.

He could see it, the sword path was drawn before his eyes, but he couldn’t avoid it.

“Kugh!”

His jawbone crumbled and his body soared up.

For a moment, his vision became hazy.

But he didn’t know that Zhuge Munhyeon’s movements had only just begun.

“Afterglow… consecutive strikes.”

Even when stars crumble, their light remains.

Bababababak!

A tremendous number of consecutive strikes began pummeling So Rokpa’s body floating in the air.

No sympathy could be felt.

It was an attack meant to completely destroy the opponent.

“Keurk!”

The moment So Rokpa could no longer endure and crashed to the ground, the Silver Cold Staff struck down toward So Rokpa’s head.

Kuuuuuung!

The earth shook and thick dust rose up.

So Rokpa stared blankly upward.

He was alive.

Thanks to the tip of the Silver Cold Staff narrowly missing his face.

Why… why didn’t he kill me?

As he looked up with eyes full of questions, Zhuge Munhyeon, who was looking down with a smile, spoke.

“Though you raised your sword against me and should rightfully be killed, I spared you… out of my respect for Cheonpung. So learn it properly. And come find me again later. With the real Cheonpung.”

“…?”

So Rokpa stared blankly at Zhuge Munhyeon as he stepped back.

Con, consideration?

What on earth does that mean?

But the shock his body had received was severe, so his mouth wouldn’t open.

Meanwhile, Zhuge Munhyeon, who had retreated to the line he had drawn, spoke to the warriors of the Heavenly Sword Brigade.

“Take him and get lost.”

In that moment, Zhuge Munhyeon seemed like an absolute ruler commanding All Under Heaven, and Zhuge Munho, who was watching that sight, felt his chest swell with emotion.

At the fact that a warrior of Zhuge had now become strong enough to show mercy even to enemies.

“That boy, he truly… can be called a divine dragon.”

He thought it was a perfectly fitting description.

Zhuge Divine Dragon—doesn’t that have a nice ring to it?

However.

“Elder Brother, what nonsense are you talking? That guy is just… a Tyrant Dragon.”

Gwan Hwiping muttered as if he didn’t like it.

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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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