Heavenly Demon Divine Saint - Chapter 103

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 103
Namgung Seon-wi barely managed to open his mouth and ask.
“…What did you say? The essence? Did I mishear you?”
“Why? You won’t teach me?”
“No… it’s not a matter of whether to teach or not, is it?”
The Heavenly Thunder Lightning Heart Technique was one of the supreme martial arts that could be called the very essence of the Namgung Family. No matter how much of a Crown Prince he was, he could not simply hand over the secret techniques built upon the blood, sweat, and centuries of contemplation of his ancestors to another person.
As if the air had been let out, Cheon So-hyun’s expression twisted immediately.
“You made such a big deal about the promise made under the Crown Prince’s name, weighing it down with all sorts of gravity, and now you’re having second thoughts? Just like they say—you’re a different person when you come out of the outhouse than when you went in.”
Namgung Seon-wi waved his hand.
“I have no intention of speaking out of both sides of my mouth. Besides, you don’t even look like you’re trying to cultivate thunder force. Let me hear your reason first.”
“I’ve faced my own difficulties along the way. And what I’m curious about isn’t theory or specific cultivation methods. It’s about the techniques for handling natural-born qi.”
“Ah, so that’s why you called it the essence? Well… if it’s just about conveying the sensation, it’s not a big deal.”
Namgung Seon-wi extended his palm wide open. Soon, a crackling sound emanated from his hand as bluish lightning qi began to flow out.
“It’s not something that can be explained in a word or two, so I’ll show you directly. Simply observing this process should grant you some insight.”
The lightning qi that had expanded in Namgung Seon-wi’s palm instantly condensed, transforming into the shape of a pure white sphere of light.
The energy soon spread widely into the shape of a shield, then sharpened and extended again, transforming into the form of a spear.
The remarkable thing was that despite freely changing its form, the total amount of lightning qi contained within it did not diminish at all.
Rather, as time passed, the power of the lightning qi grew even more fierce.
“As you know, storing natural-born qi in the dantian is practically madness. Aside from its power, you must endlessly refine external qi, so you can only obtain a pittance of energy. Inevitably, your cultivation falls behind.”
“So? Are you saying the answer to that is in that process?”
Namgung Seon-wi nodded.
“Expanding and amplifying the condensed lightning qi through the meridians. Seeing the pinnacle of martial arts with the painstakingly refined energy—that was the teaching of the Main Family. I’ll explain it briefly, so interpret and listen from your own perspective.”
Namgung Seon-wi began to discuss the essence of lightning force cultivation.
The endlessly deepening pure white martial arts was the Heavenly Thunder Lightning Heart Technique. Originally, it was said that to master it, one had to become accustomed to lightning qi through numerous failures, but Namgung Seon-wi said such a process wasn’t particularly necessary for him.
His innate constitution had aided him.
‘What an unlucky bastard.’
Cheon So-hyun clicked his tongue inwardly.
But even Namgung Seon-wi had struggled with suppressing the backlash of lightning qi.
Namgung Seon-wi conveyed his contemplations, trial and error, and techniques without reservation, explaining how to control the energy and suppress the pain.
‘So the core is speed, then?’
If one repeated the process of molding lightning qi into a sphere, transforming its shape, compressing it, and dispersing it to draw out speed, it would be possible to retrieve it back to the dantian before the pain could surge.
“Hmm.”
Cheon So-hyun quietly drew out the Samadhi Flame into his palm. Then, recalling the essence he had just heard, he concentrated on changing the form of the flame.
“Hm? You’re already going to try? It’s impossible. Even if you understand the method, it will be difficult to grasp the technique right away. First, you should practice maintaining the form with minimal flame energy…”
Namgung Seon-wi’s words caught in his throat. He stared wide-eyed at the flame wrapped around Cheon So-hyun’s hand.
“…?”
It transformed.
The flame condensed into a single point, then suddenly expanded and grew in size, while simultaneously maintaining a certain form and radiating heat even more fiercely.
Moreover, the power showed no signs of diminishing and only grew more intense.
“It’s not easy to be this unlucky… I’m reaching my limit with exasperation.”
“Enough of that. What comes next?”
“…Continue amplifying until you reach what you judge to be your limit. With each step forward, you’ll accomplish more.”
Namgung Seon-wi steadied himself and continued speaking.
“Once you’ve gathered that amplified qi into your Dantian, even a light kick will strike with the force of a blade technique. Of course, that’s when the real suffering begins—but for now, that’s still a distant prospect for both of us.”
Cheon So-hyun exhaled deeply and withdrew his qi. At least he’d grasped the fundamentals. With more practice, the next milestone would soon come into view.
Namgung Seon-wi asked.
“So when do you plan to return to the Family Estate?”
“Hard to say. I’ll know once I get there. It won’t take long, though.”
Cheon So-hyun left him with a parting instruction.
“Oh, and if anyone from the Family Estate comes looking for me, tell them I’m in seclusion training. Feel free to turn them away if they become a nuisance.”
“Sounds like someone’s chasing you.”
“There are a few bothersome people. Think what you will, but go back and take care of yourself. With a soft blade like that, you’ll never become an emperor….”
Namgung Seon-wi smiled faintly. Who in all the Realm could speak such blunt words before the Crown Prince of Namgung? It was unfamiliar, yet strangely welcome.
“Fine. Let’s meet again when I return.”
“Go.”
With that, Namgung Seon-wi descended from the carriage.
Cheon So-hyun watched his departing figure for a moment, then returned to practicing the withdrawal of qi into his Dantian.
The technique Namgung Seon-wi had just imparted was closer to profound insight—the Namgung Family’s teachings accumulated over centuries, refined through his own interpretation.
‘Excellent.’
It was no trivial lesson; it could easily be considered a stroke of fortune.
Meanwhile, the carriage accelerated toward Songshan.
* * *
“Uuuugh….”
A desolate ruin where blood and rain mingled into a squalid mire.
The stench of blood mixed with the acrid reek of burning flesh, all intertwined with agonized screams—it conjured images of hell itself.
“You demon… do you truly believe you’ll escape unscathed after committing such atrocities?”
Hong Gyu, trembling with one arm severed, barely clung to consciousness as his eyes snapped open.
His gaze held a mixture of terror, despair, and disbelief.
Just half an hour ago, he had been the absolute ruler of this place—Baek Yeon.
He had commanded countless subordinates, accumulated endless wealth, and established roots throughout the Central Plains. He stood at the pinnacle of Baek Yeon’s power, wielding influence through the supply of the spiritual elixirs that Warriors most desperately craved.
But now, all that glory had crumbled beneath this giant. The giant’s eyes flickered with a dark, sinister light.
“Did you come hoping for mercy?”
Whoosh!
As the massive greatsword flashed, Hong Gyu’s remaining arm was severed without resistance.
“Aaaahhhhh!”
Hong Gyu shrieked.
Terror consumed him.
The Baek Yeon Headquarters had already become a hellscape of ash and corpses. The certainty that his turn was coming next strangled his breath.
“P-please… spare me. Cough! If there’s something you want… name it. What could you possibly want? What grudge do you hold against us? Are you from the Dae Dong Faction? Or perhaps an assassin hired by the Martial Merchant Guild? Or….”
Then the giant extended his hand.
“Do you know this person?”
Hong Gyu’s pupils trembled ever so slightly. An uncontrolled instinct had momentarily betrayed itself.
“…I don’t know.”
The giant, Ryu Jeong-hak, did not miss that reaction.
“A seal, then.”
His tone was utterly devoid of emotion. His greatsword cleaved through the air once more.
“Aaaahhhhh!”
This time, one of his legs was severed. Blood gushed from the cleanly cut surface, as though it might be reattached.
“Ughhhh… Why… why in the world…!”
Hong Gyu’s screams echoed through the ruins.
The sight of him writhing in pools of blood was too gruesome to witness with open eyes, yet Ryu Jeong-hak harbored not the slightest sympathy for him.
He was a heretic who had lived such a sinful life that he could not even distinguish who his enemy was. Finding even his wretched breathing offensive, Ryu Jeong-hak severed his neck with a single stroke and turned away.
‘So it was connected to Heuk Si after all.’
The true nature of Baek Yeon was far more vile and contemptible than anticipated.
Baek Yeon, which those who had fled the Demonic Sect wielded like tools, had not only expanded its influence rapidly but was also operating in the shadows, harboring resentment toward the Sect.
‘To have built such a force in so short a time means they are far more than a mere band of apostates.’
Ryu Jeong-hak extended his perception widely, surveying the surroundings to check for any survivors or documents worth examining.
Moments later, he detected a faint aura seeping through the gaps in the floorboards.
Crash!
As Ryu Jeong-hak destroyed the floor without hesitation, a staircase leading underground was revealed, and a sinister aura enveloped the area.
The underground secret chamber resembled a hidden archive. Countless documents and ledgers were piled like mountains, and strange patterns—the marks of sorcery—were carved into the floor.
Malevolent qi was seeping from that place.
“Tsk.”
Crash!
Ryu Jeong-hak stamped with Jin Gak and crushed the floor before examining the documents.
As he reviewed Baek Yeon’s transaction records, the weaknesses of those he had identified during dealings, and the roster of branch organizations, his hand came to a halt.
‘…Ghost Soul Sect.’
Ghost Soul Sect. One of the Eight Pillars of the Dark Lotus Society, it was a Black Path faction that rivaled the Central Plains’ finest in the sorcery of manipulating spectral essence.
‘Could they have headed there?’
If that were true, it would mean facing an opponent beyond what one could handle alone, yet Ryu Jeong-hak was unbothered.
He began to piece together the documents, organizing the connection between Baek Yeon and Heuk Si, and the manner in which their influence had grown.
His mission was clear: to complete the protection of the Third Prince.
The resentment born from the clash with Yong Gol had been concluded with the destruction of Baek Yeon. The subsequent situation was a matter to be left to the Sect’s judgment, so he organized the documents while adding the circumstances he had uncovered thus far.
Then, Ryu Jeong-hak’s gaze turned toward the stairs behind him. His subordinate, Cheol Jo, was descending with labored breath.
A flicker of interest crossed Ryu Jeong-hak’s eyes.
“Have you found something?”
“Yes, I have located the whereabouts of the Third Prince.”
“Where?”
“In Hefei, Anhui Province, at the Namgung Family residence.”
“The Namgung Family?”
The Namgung Family. Among the Five Great Families, it stood as the preeminent noble house—a legacy of unparalleled prestige. It occupied a strategic position in the Central Plains, beyond the reach of the Sect’s gaze.
“You are certain of this?”
“Yes, I have confirmed it through multiple channels. It is said that he engaged in a fierce battle with the Namgung Crown Prince, and from that point onward, he has been called the Azure Yaksha.”
Ryu Jeong-hak’s eyes darkened with gravity. He harbored no curiosity about the outcome of such a clash—not after experiencing the Third Prince’s martial prowess firsthand.
“A yaksha, then…”
A symbol of ferocity and savage power. The epithet suited the Third Prince perfectly. What troubled him was the intensity of the impression left behind, the way it had drawn the attention of all eyes.
In the Kangho Murim, where interest multiplied danger in equal measure, his nerves naturally bristled with caution.
“However, for some reason, information regarding him is being strictly controlled, so making contact would require more time…”
“Enough.”
Ryu Jeong-hak raised his hand to silence him. As he released his true energy, the bloodstains scattered across his body evaporated in an instant, vanishing without trace.
“Summon the organization members. We continue the escort.”

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