Heavenly Demon Divine Saint - Chapter 55

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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 55
“Kyaaaaaaah!”
“Tch… how ghastly.”
Crimson blood erupted from Bae Cho-san’s shoulder where his arm had been torn away. Behind him, the stone platform lay shattered as though bombarded, leaving a gaping crater in its wake.
Even the demonic cultists who reveled in the brutal spectacle fell silent, their mouths agape in horror.
“What, what in the heavens is the meaning of this?!”
Tak Mu-won’s roar exploded from the VIP Platform.
He glared at the Blade Emperor Sect Leader with eyes blazing with fury.
“What do you mean?”
The Blade Emperor Sect Leader’s demeanor remained indifferent. Despite his disciple becoming crippled, his nonchalant response twisted Tak Mu-won’s face into an ugly grimace.
“Do you truly not know, or are you feigning ignorance? That fighter—the Unnamed Guest—his power far exceeds the established parameters! How could you allow such a person to compete…?”
“Parameters?”
“Yes! His strength far surpasses the late-stage level! Can this even be called a proper match?!”
It was one-sided slaughter. Had I stood in that arena instead of Bae Cho-san, I would have struggled to withstand even a fraction of that assault.
The Blade Emperor Sect Leader let out a derisive snort.
“You speak nonsense with remarkable ease. I understand your distress, but you should maintain your sense of reason.”
“What, what did you say?!”
“Were the disciples of the Wuzhong Sect not beyond parameters when facing other competitors? That was acceptable, but the reverse is unfair? Is that the drivel you’re spouting?”
The Blade Emperor Sect Leader’s voice turned glacial.
“Before me?”
In the preliminary rounds, the Wuzhong Sect’s disciples had inflicted the most casualties.
Most of their martial techniques were designed for short, decisive confrontations—killing strikes executed in a single blow.
Sinister techniques that disregarded one’s own body, pursuing only dominance and transformation.
Sinister meant thick with murderous intent, unafraid to tear and sever the enemy’s vital points.
In other words, techniques suited for assassination rather than honorable combat.
Bae Cho-san had been confident in victory precisely because he’d confirmed his superiority over the Third Prince through the preliminaries.
With a killing technique executed with the resolve for mutual destruction, one could topple even masters one or two ranks above.
“We didn’t establish this arena merely to watch children play.”
The Blade Emperor Sect Leader’s gaze pierced through Tak Mu-won.
“You should have confirmed long ago that all responsibility lies with the competitor themselves. So why didn’t you object then?”
Tak Mu-won’s face flushed crimson. His jaw muscles bulged as he clenched his teeth.
‘This bastard…’
The Blade Emperor Sect Leader’s meaning was crystal clear. It was acceptable if misfortune befell the Third Prince in the tournament, but not if it befell the Wuzhong Sect’s disciples.
“This is entirely different!”
Tak Mu-won shouted, his voice thick with indignation.
“An unknown fighter of unconfirmed identity displayed such overwhelming power against our sect’s disciple. Did you not foresee this outcome?! Moreover, the bracket assignments were solely determined by Baek Myun Valley…”
As his words began to cross a line, Yi Ma-je stepped forward.
“Your words grow tedious. That will suffice.”
Yi Ma-je added quietly, his gaze fixed upon Tak Mu-won.
“Or do you wish to invite even greater regret?”
A deep, resonant hum reverberated through the air.
Beneath that measured tone, a suffocating wave of demonic energy poured forth, its weight pressing against the skin like a blade. In an instant, a malevolent aura—one that seemed to strangle the very breath from one’s lungs—engulfed the entire VIP Platform.
“…!”
The Demon Master. Those called the supreme sovereigns of the demonic realm.
In the Divine Cult, which revered martial prowess and upheld the doctrine of the strong, these were the absolute masters who had claimed the title of Emperor.
His words had merely been a courtesy extended to the Sect Leader of this particular faction; in truth, his position was one suited far more to oppression than explanation.
Heon Won-mok rushed forward urgently, sensing the perilous atmosphere.
“Yes, perhaps we should leave it at that. It appears Tak Mu-won’s composure has been greatly disturbed. While the matter is certainly grave, might it not be wise to set this aside and attend to your disciple first?”
Tak Mu-won gritted his teeth, releasing a suppressed groan. His gaze alternated between the two Demon Masters before he pushed himself up from his seat and descended from the VIP Platform.
“The atmosphere feels rather ominous, doesn’t it?”
At Kang Hyun’s words, Cheon So-hyun gazed toward the dais and replied.
“Indeed it does.”
Kang Hyun asked with a puzzled expression.
“What are they saying? I’ve extended my senses, but I can’t hear a sound.”
“They’ve erected a qi barrier.”
“A qi barrier?”
“Look closely—see how the area around them shimmers with that hazy distortion? They’ve projected their energy outward to prevent sound from escaping. And with his disciple’s arm severed, can you blame him for losing his composure? His rage is entirely justified.”
“Ah, I see your point.”
Kang Hyun nodded before asking cautiously.
“But what exactly happened in that match?”
“Hmm?”
Kang Hyun scratched the back of his head.
“The match just now, I mean. Dust happened to blow into my eyes at that moment, so I missed it. Ha… surely you saw it, didn’t you?”
“I did. That Unnamed Guest channeled his martial power into a hidden blade technique, spouted some nonsense, then aimed for the heart and fired.”
Kang Hyun’s brow furrowed deeply.
“The heart? But it was the arm that was severed.”
“The referee intervened midway. He twisted the trajectory just before the blade could cleave through the body.”
“Ah… I see.”
Kang Hyun stared at the Unnamed Guest with an expression of shock.
Where on earth had such a monster emerged from?
In truth, Kang Hyun had observed every moment of the entire battle from beginning to end. He simply hadn’t been able to follow the movements with his eyes—they were too swift.
Even without focusing intently, the fact that he couldn’t discern the technique at all sent a chill racing down his spine.
‘This is… rather dangerous.’
Among all the opponents he had encountered thus far, the strongest master was undoubtedly Yang Bong, the Jagwi Gate Leader. Though they had never directly clashed, the fact that he had driven the young master to the brink and forced him into emergency breathing techniques left no room for doubt.
The problem was that this Unnamed Guest appeared to be a master of an even higher caliber than Yang Bong.
Unable to shake off the ominous foreboding, Kang Hyun opened his mouth carefully.
“Young master, that…”
“What is it?”
“Will you be alright?”
“What do you mean? Stop dragging this out and speak plainly.”
“It’s the Unnamed Guest. If you win this match, you’ll face him next. Surely you knew that?”
“Ah, is that so? Well, that works out nicely.”
Cheon So-hyun hadn’t been paying attention to the bracket at all.
Now that I had become a Buddhist monk, how could I possibly change my demeanor based on circumstances or the person before me?
My only intention was to guide everyone equally, whoever stepped forward.
My gaze naturally drifted toward the VIP Platform.
‘So that’s what he prepared?’
Then my eyes met with Do Je’s, who was looking down from above.
Do Je raised the corners of his mouth and nodded—a gesture as if asking whether the prepared gift pleased me.
‘A deranged demon, truly.’
Just then, Chang Sun, who had finished preparing the arena, shouted.
“We shall now resume the matches! Competitors, please take the stage as your names are called!”
After that, the preliminary rounds continued as each competitor displayed their martial prowess.
With successive bloody battles unfolding, the frozen atmosphere gradually heated up.
“Oh no, that technique doesn’t work! What a waste!”
“What are you doing, you idiots! Move faster!”
“Damn it! I should’ve gone up there! How much do they even get paid?!”
“You can’t even stand there. First, do something about that belly of yours before you speak.”
After several more matches had passed.
Kwaaaang!
A massive explosion erupted from the arena.
Through the thick smoke, golden eyes gleamed ominously. The opponent was already knocked unconscious, sprawled across the Fighting Stage.
A giant standing on the arena glared at the Waiting Area.
“What, didn’t he get beaten enough?”
At the end of that gaze stood Kang Hyun.
“What are you staring at, you foolish bear cub! Want me to pound you nice and good again?!”
When Kang Hyun bellowed, Maeng Sa-ryeon shook his head and descended from the stage.
“Haha, so the giant with a frame like a mountain got scared in an instant. Did you see that, my lord?”
“Don’t pretend to know me.”
Cheon So-hyun shook his head and rose from his seat.
* * *
“Now, the long-awaited final match! Let us see who will be the last competitor to advance to the semifinals!”
Chang Sun induced the crowd’s response with increasingly exaggerated gestures.
“Are they coming out?!”
“Finally!”
“Please welcome them with thunderous applause! Today’s main event features Seol Jung-ho, the runner-up from Chukhon Arena, and Cheon So-hyun, the Third Prince of the Heavenly Demon Cult!”
“Woooooow!”
Amid the tremendous roar, Cheon So-hyun, who had taken the stage, murmured in bewilderment.
“Runner-up?”
Chukhon Arena was the tournament ground where the spear wielder who had fought Kang Hyun belonged. I had heard he was an undefeated master, yet apparently there was another runner-up.
Seol Jung-ho from across the arena responded.
“Ah, so it’s because of Heuk Jin. He is indeed an undefeated master. I myself tasted defeat at his hands in my younger days.”
He continued with confident tone.
“After that, I built up my martial skills and dreamed of avenging that loss, but somehow Heuk Jin kept refusing matches, so the opportunity never came. Ha ha.”
“I see.”
Cheon So-hyun narrowed his eyes. Seol Jung-ho wore leather hand wraps that covered from his knuckles to his wrists.
‘His forearms are quite well-trained.’
The pressure he emanated and his flawless stance left no doubt—he possessed the strength of a true master.
“May I ask you something?”
“Please, ask freely.”
“Does the Chukhon Arena belong to Baek Myun Valley’s faction?”
“Pardon?”
“Both Heuk Jin and you seem too skilled to be wasting away in a tournament arena.”
“Ha ha, you’re too generous with your praise. But yes, ultimately everything in Baek Myun Valley belongs to the Sect Leader, does it not?”
“And the decision to participate was ultimately because of the Blade Emperor Sect?”
Seol Jung-ho smiled gently.
“Correct. I observed your matches carefully during the preliminaries. As a fellow martial artist, I was deeply impressed. I humbly request instruction.”
Cheon So-hyun nodded.
So Seol Jung-ho was also a test arranged by the Blade Emperor Sect.
‘How absurd.’
How did I, a Buddhist monk of deep cultivation, end up being tested before demons?
My emotions stirred briefly, but I soon regained my composure.
It was thanks to the words the Abbot always kept on his lips.
-If you do not go to Hell, who will?
Right. If not me, then who should go to Hell?
Only by plunging into that abyss could I guide all the demons dwelling there to enlightenment. With that thought, my fall into the Demonic Sect no longer seemed so dire.
“Heh heh, yes. Let’s see this through to the end.”
Cheon So-hyun’s eyes gleamed with an intense white radiance.
Soon, Chang Sun’s signal fell.
“Then let us begin!”
Kwaaang!
With a tremor that shook the ground, Seol Jung-ho surged forward.
The elasticity born from his robust physique was exquisite. He closed the distance in a single breath, drawing his demonic energy to its limit.
‘First strike guarantees victory!’
Then he brought his palm strike crashing down toward Cheon So-hyun’s crown.
“…!”
In that instant, his eyes widened greatly.
His vision suddenly darkened. As if he had anticipated it, Cheon So-hyun’s palm was already blocking his face.
‘No, it’s too late to block!’
Seol Jung-ho hastily twisted his body and spun his entire frame to evade.
Boom!
A searing wave of force erupted past my ear. Seol Jung-ho barely evaded the direct strike and attempted to regain his footing, but I seized the opening without hesitation.
Whoosh!
“Ugh!”
Seol Jung-ho felt his internal organs twist violently, drowning in excruciating agony.
My heavy fist drove deep into his solar plexus, the impact so devastating that a dizzying pain surged through him—as if his body might rupture entirely.
‘One blow… I can endure this. I need to create distance—!’
“You’ve learned well. Quite nimble, I must admit.”
My assault never ceased. Twisting my shoulder, I thrust my opposite hand forward—a devastating strike aimed at his jaw.
No torrential force erupted. No fierce demonic energy wrapped around it.
Only terrifying speed and surgical precision.
Boom!
That was the last thing Seol Jung-ho saw.
“Uwaaaaaa!”
A deafening roar erupted from the arena, as if the very ground might split asunder.
“Cheon So-hyun! Cheon So-hyun!”
“Only two steps remain until victory! Congratulations!”
Beneath the thunderous cheers pouring down upon me, I steadied my breathing.
Whoooosh!
I adjusted my stance, awakening the Gwangak Gyeol within me, and drew my martial essence upward with tremendous force. The essence spread like molten lava, flooding through my meridians.
A fierce, devouring aura—like a fire demon consuming Mount Tai itself—blazed within my eyes.
“Hmm? What are you doing?”
As the crowd stirred uneasily at this strange development, the Blade Emperor Sect Leader’s lips curved into a long smile.
‘Yes, I must demonstrate that much.’
My voice, infused with inner power, resonated throughout the entire arena.
“No need to drag this out. Come up here.”
My sharp gaze pierced through the Unnamed Guest wearing the white mask.

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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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