Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 89

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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 89

 

 

It was like cold water being poured over them.

A single strike.

However, that single strike was enough to change the entire atmosphere.

Ui Qi?

How could someone achieve the realm of Supreme Peak at the age of sixteen?

He was already on the same level as Gang Mugakju.

No, even among those with Ui Qi, Zhuge Munhyeon was overwhelmingly stronger.

The faces of the Namgung family warriors were horribly distorted, while those on Zhuge’s side clenched their fists tight.

The blood that Mok Jaun had spat out thoroughly soaked the ground and stained his front garment. Having barely managed to stand, he swayed with a pale face as if he might collapse at any moment.

The worry that had been directed toward Zhuge Munhyeon transformed into thunderous cheers that echoed across the mountain ridge.

“H-he won!”

“Munhyeon won!”

“Waaaaah!”

But Zhuge Munhyeon walked with an expressionless face as if he couldn’t hear any sound.

It was Normal Walking.

Even though he was merely walking, Mok Jaun, who had already sensed his defeat, flinched and staggered backward.

No matter how much you struggle.

It’s already a quagmire.

The more you move, the deeper you sink…

With such dim eyes that had lost all fighting spirit, there was absolutely no way to escape.

“Now, this is a continuous attack. It’s called Seven Stars Revolving Heaven. Seven stars fill the sky and rotate, and it’s a series of strikes modeled after the sight of their light covering All Under Heaven. Once unleashed, it doesn’t stop until forty-nine strikes are completed.”

Zhuge Munhyeon was still kind.

With a bright smile, he approached step by step, firmly pressing down on the ground with each footfall.

His footprints grew deeper.

Hissss!

The contained internal energy radiated heat, creating white steam and heat waves that rose up, pressing down on Mok Jaun with tremendous presence.

People of old called such a majestic walk the Sovereign Step.

It was just walking while releasing all the energy one possessed.

Anyway, they loved to come up with names for things.

Of course, those crushed before such steps were so terrified that they all knelt and bowed their heads without even trying to resist.

Just like Mok Jaun now.

Suffering as if he might suffocate, he gritted his teeth and grimaced as he extended not his sword but his hand, waving it.

He had already sensed his defeat.

Because he had underestimated his opponent, he had suffered irreversible internal injuries from a single strike, and his physical condition was much worse than before he had circulated his qi.

And in such a situation, a continuous attack…

Mok Jaun glanced at the Silver Cold Staff in Zhuge Munhyeon’s hand.

Unlike his own sword that had been broken in one strike, it was so sturdy that it didn’t even have a scratch.

Could he block it?

There was no way his body could withstand that intensity with internal energy added. Before the forty-nine strikes were even finished… he would die.

If he said he would lose his life while receiving the Three Yielding Ritual, no one could find fault with Zhuge.

After all, he was the one who had requested it in the first place.

“W-wait… just wait a moment.”

“…”

“I’ve lost…”

Mok Jaun, who had realized with his entire body that Zhuge Munhyeon’s skills were superior to his own, tried to at least save his life.

He too was a descendant of the orthodox faction.

If he swallowed his pride and begged for mercy, surely the other would show magnanimity.

…or so he thought, but before his words could even finish, Zhuge Munhyeon’s figure moved terrifyingly fast and penetrated to his side.

“Who gave you permission to lose?”

“…?!”

“Until I finish, you’re not allowed to even acknowledge defeat.”

Suddenly, the back of his neck stung.

A pressure point had been struck, and the words rising in his throat couldn’t be uttered.

He tried desperately to shout, but only muffled groans came out. No, they were weeping groans.

“Now, here comes the continuous attack.”

“…!”

In his bewildered eyes was captured the sight of Zhuge Munhyeon raising the Silver Cold Staff high.

Ah… damn it…

To encounter such a vicious brat.

The moment his heart became desolate, Zhuge Munhyeon’s Silver Cold Staff was swung while emitting a burst of light.

Thwaaaack!

Mok Jaun’s body soared high as his jawbone was shattered by the upward strike of the Silver Cold Staff.

Then the Silver Cold Staff, containing flashes of light, poured down on his body while creating countless trajectories like seven stars.

Flash, flash, flash…

His body seemed to disappear as if completely trapped within the light, and only the sound of thwack-thwack-thwack-thwack-thwack could be heard.

Then when the light disappeared and the Silver Cold Staff stopped moving.

Drip, drip, drip.

In the audience wrapped in silence, only the sound of blood flowing down the Silver Cold Staff and dripping echoed.

Strangely, that sound could be heard clearly in their ears.

“Oh no… there’s still one more strike left…”

Zhuge Munhyeon looked down at the ground with an expression full of regret, and at the end of his gaze lay Mok Jaun, who had become a bloody mess.

He was still breathing.

He had merely lost consciousness from the extreme pain.

With everyone watching, Zhuge Munhyeon shook off the blood from his Silver Cold Staff and looked at the Namgung family warriors who had frozen awkwardly in place.

Shocked, they couldn’t even blink their wide-open eyes.

Zhuge Munhyeon, revealing his even teeth in a pale smile, spoke.

“Now then… kneel.”

“…”

A smile and a single word were enough.

Having already been defeated and with their last hope crushed, the Namgung family warriors could no longer endure.

With their fighting spirit gone and their pride crushed, they dropped their swords one by one and knelt with bowed heads.

Now it was time to hand over the initiative.

“Uncle, thank you for giving me the opportunity. I’ll withdraw now.”

At the sight of Zhuge Munhyeon politely greeting and returning to his place as if nothing had happened, the corners of Zhuge Domyeong’s mouth slightly rose.

As expected, smiling didn’t suit him.

But soon returning to his expressionless state, he commanded the Zhuge Family warriors with a voice full of authority.

“Check on him!”

“Yes!”

The warrior who received the order ran over to examine Mok Jaun’s condition in detail.

Don’t worry. I didn’t kill him.

That guy’s head is the most valuable.

“He’s unharmed.”

“That’s fortunate.”

Zhuge Domyeong nodded with his usual composure and spoke to the kneeling Azure Sky Swordsmen.

“Your leader collapsed without even completing the three ceremonial bows offered by the Main House. Do not resist any further. If you do, death will be your punishment!”

Even without those words, they had already lost their fighting spirit and had no will left to resist.

“The war is over! Treat the captives with respect and tend to the wounded! Provide food and water to the weary and send news of victory to the Main House!”

“Yes!”

The warriors responded to Zhuge Domyeong’s command with more vigor than ever before.

It was a perfect victory.

A victory that was perfect in both strategy and martial prowess.

Perhaps it was also the most righteous victory in a world where the boundaries between orthodox and unorthodox had collapsed. There were wounded, but almost no deaths.

 

* * *

 

The rumors spread quickly.

Through the markets, through people’s mouths.

Of course, the Beggar Sect Members accelerated the spread of these rumors even faster.

And the first place to take a direct hit from these rumors was the Murim forces established in Hubei Province.

“The, the Namgung Family lost?”

“That’s right! All of Hubei Province is in chaos right now. From what we hear, nearly three hundred Namgung Family Warriors were subdued and dragged to Yungzhong Mountain.”

“Hah!”

The shock that Demon Shadow Tower Master Lee Pilbaek received was beyond description.

When the Namgung Family attacked Hubei, he had chosen to watch the situation without moving rashly.

Even though they had reestablished themselves as the rulers of Anhui, coveting Hubei as well was certainly no easy task.

Because their forces would be dispersed.

He thought that Blood Shadow Pavilion, which had been attacked, might have committed some great offense against them, and once that anger subsided, the disturbance would be quelled.

But things took a strange turn.

The Zhuge Family’s entry into the war.

It was a completely unexpected development.

For decades, they had treated each other as enemies, occupying the Zhuge Family’s territory and constantly watching for opportunities.

How deep must the accumulated grudges be?

Yet they had stepped forward to help Blood Shadow Pavilion and defeated the Namgung Family.

“Tower Master, that’s not all.”

“What do you mean?”

“Didn’t we hear that the Zhuge Family had taken control of Dangang District?”

“We did.”

“The Wudang Sect is behind that.”

“What? The Wudang Sect?”

“Yes.”

“…”

At his subordinate Go Gyu’s words, Lee Pilbaek’s mind became confused.

Blood Shadow Pavilion had gone under the Zhuge Family, and even Wudang was maintaining close relations with the Zhuge Family.

What would happen now?

Now, in northern Hubei Province, they were the only force that could rival the Zhuge Family.

No, they couldn’t even claim to rival them.

Even when the Zhuge Family was tied down at Yungzhong Mountain, they had maintained an equal balance because Blood Shadow Pavilion and Demon Shadow Tower stood together.

If the somewhat small Honyeon Territory had collapsed and even Blood Shadow Pavilion had fallen into their hands?

“Is, isolation?”

The situation that the Zhuge Family had once faced had become their own.

Wudang Sect to the north, Zhuge Family to the east, Black River Gate to the south.

“Shouldn’t we devise some kind of countermeasure?”

“…”

“If the Zhuge Family decides to completely stabilize the north at this opportunity…”

It felt like chills were running down his spine.

There was no way they could block an attack from the Zhuge Family.

As this battle had shown, their martial prowess was also at an incredible level. Though Blood Shadow Pavilion had helped, hadn’t three hundred Azure Sky Swordsmen been captured without even putting up a fight?

In such a situation, it would be difficult for Demon Shadow Tower to hold out alone. The forces they could gather were just a few minor sects at best.

“Damn it, do we have no choice but to choose?”

“Either Black River Gate to the south, or submitting to the Zhuge Family like Blood Shadow Pavilion.”

“Hmm…”

“If it were me, I would choose the Zhuge Family.”

“What?”

“Blood Shadow Pavilion had their status recognized by declaring their intention to submit voluntarily.”

“Had their status recognized?”

“Like their branch families. They must follow their commands and regulations, but their territorial autonomy is guaranteed.”

“They guarantee autonomy? The Zhuge Family?”

“Yes. They said they would never interfere as long as they conducted legitimate business. It seems they’re willing to overlook past grudges too. The sects in Hubei Province who heard this rumor are rushing over there.”

“Su, such…”

“Oh, I heard the Blood Shadow Hall Master is even changing the sect’s name?”

“Changing the name too?”

“Yes. From now on, it’s called Uiseong Ok Family Estate. Ok Sayeong has risen to the position of first Family Head.”

“O, Ok Family Estate?”

What kind of orthodox-sounding name was this?

Had they decided to completely enter the orthodox path?

“Actually, among our subordinate warriors, the atmosphere isn’t very favorable toward Black River Gate. To be honest, there’s nothing good about going under Black River Gate, is there?”

“…”

“Instead of becoming a subordinate force, we’d have to pay massive taxes, and we’d have to bow our heads to warriors dispatched by the Black River Gate Master as our superiors. It might be different if we were originally from that side, but for us who have lived independently, Black River Gate isn’t a very appealing choice…”

Lee Pilbaek’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Go Gyu.

He understood the situation.

But how did this guy know so much?

“Go Gyu.”

“Yes?”

“Are you secretly running spies behind my back? How do you know the affairs of other forces in such detail?”

“Well… the beggar gangs are spreading the word.”

“What?”

“All the information these days flows from that direction. They call themselves the Beggar’s Sect, don’t they? Branch offices of beggar gangs are already being established throughout Hubei Province.”

“Br, branch offices? Then the Beggar’s Sect?”

“Yes. They’ve even established their main headquarters at Yungzhong Mountain where the Zhuge Family is located.”

“…”

“I heard that beggars from northern Hubei Province are also rushing to align themselves with them. At this rate, I wonder if the Beggar’s Sect might be revived.”

Go Gyu shook his head and sighed.

Realizing he could no longer delay his choice, Lee Pilbaek casually picked up his brush.

“What are you doing?”

“…Writing a letter.”

“Pardon?”

Just as Go Gyu made a puzzled expression, Lee Pilbaek wrote at the top of the letter, “To the Respected Zhuge Family Head.”

There was no other choice.

He wasn’t foolish enough to need to taste something to know if it was dung or soybean paste.

The tide was turning toward the Zhuge Family.

Above all, he didn’t want to seek help from Black River Gate either.

Because they would take everything.

But the Zhuge Family would guarantee status and preserve forces without holding past grudges against them.

Then naturally…

Hmm, what would be a good name?

Should I call him Heungsan Lee Family Head?

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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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