Heavenly Demon Divine Saint - Chapter 42

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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 42
Crash! Crash! Crash! Crash!
Cheon So-hyun’s spear energy erupted against the Blade Emperor’s flank, and with brilliant sparks, the sharp metallic screech of steel colliding with steel rang out in rapid succession.
True to his Buddhist compassion, the Blade Emperor harbored no ill will.
Yet his perpetually arrogant demeanor—as though testing everyone around him—was grating. I gathered my energy with the intent to crush that insolent pride.
However, a bizarre sensation, like striking a city wall, caused my spear energy to scatter.
“Damnably resilient.”
The Blade Emperor’s protective inner energy had rebounded, deflecting the strike.
It mattered little. If one blow wouldn’t suffice, then two, three—successive strikes would do the job.
Boom!
Cheon So-hyun stomped down with a true heel strike.
It was a descending blow aimed at the Blade Emperor’s instep, and the force behind it was far more violent than before—as if intent on crushing it entirely.
Whoosh!
The Blade Emperor moved to counter with his protective technique, then reconsidered.
‘What is this…?’
It was a strange sensation. From the moment the spear energy made contact, the demonic energy seemed to scatter as though recoiling from the collision itself.
Was it the fire energy disrupting his technique’s function, or was it an inherent characteristic of this martial method?
The Blade Emperor had no choice but to retreat half a step to his left.
Boom!
The earth trembled as though a massive boulder had fallen.
Simultaneously, Cheon So-hyun pivoted on his leg, rotating his body. The smooth upward sweep of his kick made the Blade Emperor’s brow furrow.
‘Fast.’
The shockwave erupting through the air was vicious beyond measure.
The Blade Emperor deflected it with his palm and retreated with his footwork.
‘I’ve merely embarrassed myself.’
It was disconcerting. No matter how much advantage he’d conceded, he’d never expected to find himself retreating.
Then Cheon So-hyun surged forward as though shattering the very earth beneath him.
Boom! Boom!!
‘I cannot afford to give him an opening.’
Before the Blade Emperor could even reset his stance, Cheon So-hyun’s fist tore through the air toward him.
Three consecutive strikes from the Arhat Fist came like lightning, and before that ferocious assault, the Blade Emperor deployed his Bloodless Footwork.
Yet his vaunted footwork failed to reach its full potential. His energy manipulation remained unrefined.
Boom!
Cheon So-hyun’s fist finally drove into the Blade Emperor’s shoulder.
‘Amitabha Buddha!!’
Cheon So-hyun stomped down once more with a true heel strike. The force was more intense than ever, radiating through the ground.
A true heel strike was not merely for intimidation. It drew earth energy up from the very tips of the feet, and through rebound force, it amplified the power of martial techniques to another level entirely.
This was why Shaolin’s martial arts had earned renown throughout the Realm for so long. Every single technique, even a single footstep, contained profound martial principles.
And he, known as the greatest fist fighter under heaven, had reached the pinnacle of such cultivation.
Whooooooom!
Cheon So-hyun’s fist erupted with brilliant light.
It was the Dragon Blossom Fist. Though his mastery remained incomplete, leaving the dragon’s form crude, the demonic energy he’d absorbed made his momentum all the more ferocious.
In an instant, five successive punches left trails of pristine white force in their wake.
“Ha!”
Do Je let out a hollow laugh as he unfurled the Lightning Demon Soul Technique.
With his left hand, he erected barriers to neutralize the assault, while his right obscured the field of vision, disrupting the sequence of techniques.
Whoosh! Boom!
Yet the Third Prince’s fists did not relent. Pristine white force swelled and surged forward.
As movements bordering on acrobatic grace continued, Do Je’s robes smoldered and his breathing grew increasingly ragged.
Do Je uttered a rare exclamation of admiration.
“You move as though possessed by a demon!”
“A demon? Don’t speak nonsense.”
Cheon So-hyun drew his martial essence to its peak and extended his fist once more. A demon, you say? To one born a child of Buddha, could any comparison be more distant?
Crash!
Another wave of relentless combinations surged forth. Do Je regarded him with a gaze tinged with bewilderment.
‘How peculiar.’
I had already discerned that the Third Prince’s martial prowess was extraordinary, yet its degree now exceeded my initial assessment.
It would be gratifying to admire purely, but there was undoubtedly something amiss in the Third Prince’s current achievement.
Excellent bone structure befitting Cheon Family bloodline, and upon that foundation, evidence of diligent cultivation in both external and internal arts.
‘Yet the refinement of his techniques is far too exquisite.’
The most difficult aspect of the path toward transcendence is said to be the polishing of techniques after one has internalized martial arts to suit one’s own body.
Yet Cheon So-hyun was already accomplishing this.
More precisely, he was wielding only that aspect flawlessly. It was as though a child barely literate wielded the perfect calligraphy of an adult.
‘Why? No… How?’
No matter how I contemplated it, the discord was too profound. In all my years observing countless individuals, I had never encountered such a case. They were either similarly lacking or similarly exceptional.
How could this be? Had he polished only his techniques to hasten his achievement? Or perhaps…
‘Could the foundation of such explosive combinations stem from profound insight into martial philosophy itself… In any case, even had I not conceded the opening move, the outcome would likely have been the same.’
While recognizing my own miscalculation, Do Je trembled at a threat he had rarely felt in ages.
A gambler who misreads his hand faces ruin—such is the law. I must correct course now.
‘Yes, at this level…’
His left palm gleamed, then settled upon the blade at his waist. The surrounding air grew heavy with oppressive weight.
“One technique should be acceptable, yes?”
Cheon So-hyun’s eyes widened as thick killing intent coalesced.
‘Danger!’
Cheon So-hyun drew his martial essence to its absolute limit. In the reflexive moment he tilted his body rightward and deployed his footwork.
Screeeeeeeech!
A brilliant white light lashed forth like lightning.
It was the blade energy Do Je had unleashed.
It carved through the ground as though it were tofu, leaving a long, deep furrow in its wake.
“Hah, hah!”
Cheon So-hyun barely dodged the strike, his breathing ragged and urgent.
Do Je gathered his energy with a satisfied expression.
“Your instincts are quite sharp. Shall we end the sparring here? If we continue, I fear my true power might slip out.”
“If I unleash my true strength twice, innocent people will end up dead.”
“You’re being dramatic.”
Do Je chuckled and brushed off his robes.
His sleeves were singed and creased in several places—remnants of Cheon So-hyun’s offensive strikes that he hadn’t fully managed to block.
“I never expected to draw out my true path in a sparring match with you. To be honest, I thought myself fortunate if your fingertips even grazed my body.”
“So, have you confirmed the possibility?”
Do Je nodded.
“I’ve confirmed enough that it’s neither reckless audacity nor arrogance. At your age, possessing such martial prowess, it’s only natural to have confidence. However, I can’t help but harbor certain doubts.”
“Doubts about what?”
Do Je’s eyes grew distant and profound.
“Your martial arts. The heart technique that channels heat energy, your fist methods, palm techniques, footwork—some of it feels familiar, yet on the other hand, it’s entirely foreign. May I inquire about its origins?”
Cheon So-hyun dusted off his hands and answered briefly.
“I taught myself.”
“Hmm?”
“I learned it alone. I can’t reveal all my foundations, so please don’t press further.”
Even if Do Je had encountered Shaolin’s martial arts before, he could never have discerned the similarities.
With demonic energy coursing through instead of legitimate power, only its sinister nature would be apparent—how could he possibly detect anything else?
Even if a horde of bald-headed monks came, detection would be impossible.
Faced with such audacious refusal to elaborate further, Do Je burst into laughter.
“Ha! Indeed, there’s nothing more foolish than revealing one’s own hand. I understand your position—but if you came seeking persuasion, shouldn’t you at least lay bare your circumstances?”
“What specifically are you curious about?”
“The constraint you carry.”
At this unexpected remark, Cheon So-hyun’s brow twitched.
“A constraint, you say?”
Do Je nodded.
“Your martial prowess and resourcefulness beyond your years are impressive, but that stems entirely from the refinement of your techniques. Your internal and external cultivation fall far short of that level.”
“….”
“Any martial art naturally achieves harmony with time and effort, yet yours is fundamentally imbalanced, as if misaligned from the start. Ultimately, you must harbor some grave flaw—whether constitutional or otherwise.”
Cheon So-hyun stared at Do Je with his lips pressed firmly shut.
‘His perception is quite keen.’
It meant he hadn’t seized the Demon Master’s position through gambling alone. He’d seen through it from the start when spouting talk of compassion and such, but this demon possessed remarkably sharp insight.
“The greatest problem is….”
Do Je’s eyes gleamed with an eerie green light.
“That you harbor a constraint so severe it couldn’t be resolved even after consuming the Demon Ring Altar. What’s more galling is that you sought help while concealing this fact.”
Despite the sharp gaze fixed upon him, Cheon So-hyun maintained his composure.
“Ahem, your perception is truly uncanny. You’re right—I do carry a constraint.”
“Were you planning to hide it to the very end?”
“I didn’t hide it so much as see no need to reveal it. As I said, the most crucial factor in achieving our goal is elevating the Warrior’s power—my constitution hasn’t been an obstacle to that.”
“You’re saying you’ve found a way around it?”
“Indeed.”
The problem with a half-formed dantian ultimately came down to a limited total capacity of inner energy. Any Warrior would find it burdensome, but he didn’t concern himself with it.
His philosophy was simple: nothing lasts forever.
‘If quantity falls short, quality will suffice.’
That’s why he’d devoted all his effort to refining his energy, increasing the purity of his demonic essence.
“Didn’t you just witness firsthand that it’s not a significant problem?”
“Perhaps not now, but who knows what the future holds? It’s a tired cliché, but small oversights have a way of becoming catastrophes.”
As the conversation stalled, Cheon So-hyun’s brow furrowed.
“So what exactly are you trying to say?”
“Are you genuinely failing to grasp my meaning, or are you pretending?”
“You confirmed the potential, didn’t you? Even with constraints, you’re convinced it’s an attractive hand—aren’t you?”
“….”
“If you were going to refuse outright, you wouldn’t belabor the point. The fact that you’re dragging this out tells me you want something else. Why not simply state it plainly? Wouldn’t that be easier for both of us?”
Do Je chuckled softly.
‘Remarkable, truly.’
It was a negotiation style he’d never encountered before. He couldn’t tell if it was sheer audacity or exceptional perception.
“Fair enough. There’s no point in dancing around it now. I did confirm the potential. Expansion into the Central Plains is an inescapable destiny, but if anyone could obstruct it, I suspect it would be someone of your caliber.”
“….”
“However, my concerns remain.”
Do Je’s eyes flickered with a verdant gleam.
“Your constraints. I can’t be certain whether this method you speak of is truly a viable path, nor can I be sure you won’t abandon it midway. Wasn’t your seclusion and wasted years, your descent into demonic obsession—all of it stemming from those very constraints?”
“….”
“I thought as much.”
Do Je’s eyes shifted to a deeper blue.
“Third Prince, when you lead a faction from the seat of Cult Leadership, you encounter every manner of human depravity. Do you know which type is most contemptible?”
“Those who default on their debts?”
“That’s merely crude. A blade settles such matters. The troublesome ones are those who’ve squandered everything yet still boast they can rise again. Such wretches inevitably drag those around them into ruin as well.”
“You’re uncertain whether I’m that sort of person?”
Do Je let out a derisive snort.
“Worse than that. Your noble station shields you—even if you fail in opposing the Great Sect, you suffer no real consequence. For us, it’s different. We must stake our very necks.”
“….”
“Take Yi Ma-je alone—no, never mind. Do you possess the ruthless desperation, the venom, to claw your way out of the mire and still achieve your goal?”
Cheon So-hyun and Do Je’s gazes locked across the empty space between them.
Now he finally understood what Do Je was driving at. Opposing the Great Sect was tantamount to defying the Cult’s will itself.
Even The Demon Master couldn’t help but feel the weight of it.
“This isn’t something a few words can explain. Is there something you want from me?”
A flicker of intrigue crossed Do Je’s eyes.
“What else? If you’ve come to the gambling house, you must gamble.”

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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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