Heavenly Demon Divine Saint - Chapter 58

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

Chapter 58
BOOM—CRASH—CRASH—CRASH!
A deafening roar accompanied a scorching wave of heat that swept across the arena. Chang Sun tore through the ground relentlessly, pulverizing stone and earth, conjuring a violent tempest in his wake.
Moments later, as the dust began to settle and the scene grew clearer, relieved sighs rippled through the spectator stands.
“Phew….”
Most of them had been trembling in dread, terrified that the Unnamed Guest’s overwhelming power would result in catastrophe.
Yet all their anxieties dissolved like snow beneath the sun. The Unnamed Guest’s body was so devastated that his form was unrecognizable.
The spectators widened their eyes, peering through the smoke of the explosion.
“There, there…!”
Between the white haze, a visage suffused with a subtle luminescence emerged.
Even the word “beautiful” fell woefully short of capturing his appearance. Pure white heat shimmer enveloped his entire body, undulating like ethereal wings, and the mysterious grace of his form brought an involuntary hush over the arena.
“A sight to behold.”
Do Je gazed at the shattered fighting stage, a deep smile playing across his lips.
‘Is this the true face of the Third Prince?’
A shock struck him like a blow to the back of his head.
I had not expected Cheon So-hyun to lose, but neither had I anticipated such a overwhelming victory.
The fact that my prediction had been wrong despite having exchanged blows directly meant that Cheon So-hyun’s growth far exceeded the level I had anticipated.
‘He has transcended the boundaries.’
The world occasionally gives birth to such exceptional talents.
Those who mock the principles of all things and crush them underfoot, radiating divine majesty. Prodigies so extraordinary that even the word “genius” becomes inadequate.
They are the sort who grasp in a single breath what others are granted only after bone-grinding effort.
Witnessing such a caliber of talent, I could not help but grow curious about his future growth.
Then, Yi Ma-je broke the silence.
“I think that’s sufficient. Do we need to confirm anything more?”
He looked at Do Je. His eyes held a mixture of subtle irritation and displeasure.
Do Je knew that Yi Ma-je had accepted the wager only because he trusted the Third Prince, and had been displeased from the start.
“Surely not. If my judgment had deteriorated to the point of not recognizing that, I should abandon everything—the Demon Master and all.”
Do Je continued in a subdued voice.
“But… whether it’s because I’m holding too much or because there’s too much left to grasp, useless doubts keep surfacing. The longer we delay, the darker the prospects become, as they say.”
“You’re making a characteristically sound judgment. Isn’t it clear which choice carries more of a gamble?”
“A gamble, you say….”
After a brief silence, Do Je burst into hearty laughter.
“You’ve become quite the silver-tongued orator, haven’t you.”
He rose from his seat.
Do Je’s eyes swept across the vast circular arena, wavering slightly. Memories flashed rapidly through his mind—from the days when it was nothing but a barren wasteland to the present.
Either gain everything or lose everything.
There exists a sensation that boils up only at the crossroads of such binary choices.
“It’s still far too early… but well, let’s give it a try.”
Do Je’s smile deepened with intense exhilaration.
‘Hm? What is this demon being?’
At the sound of a robe fluttering, Cheon So-hyun lifted his gaze.
Unexpectedly, the Blade Emperor Sect Leader descended through the air with his hands clasped behind his back.
With all eyes in the arena fixed upon him, the Blade Emperor Sect Leader landed before Cheon So-hyun.
“Truly, a spectacle rarely witnessed in recent times. You’ve endured well, Third Prince.”
Cheon So-hyun nodded in acknowledgment.
“It’s been a while since I’ve tasted dust. I wonder whose fault it was that I suffered so greatly.”
“….”
“But what brings you down here? The competition is still in full swing.”
The Blade Emperor Sect Leader examined Cheon So-hyun slowly.
His garments were stained crimson with blood from countless wounds carved across his body.
His breathing was ragged, his vitality visibly depleted, yet his fighting spirit remained undiminished.
“I wondered why you hadn’t withdrawn—were you truly prepared to continue in such a state?”
“Swatting a few flies shouldn’t require much strength. Since I’ve started, I should see it through to the end.”
The Blade Emperor Sect Leader chuckled softly and waved his hand.
“That will suffice. I’ve confirmed what I needed to.”
“Then….”
“Let me warn you beforehand—once I set the stage, there is absolutely no turning back. Should you utter even a word of surrender or compromise midway, I will sever that tongue of yours. This is my promise.”
A fierce light blazed in the Blade Emperor Sect Leader’s eyes.
“Are you prepared?”
Cheon So-hyun did not avert his gaze. His eyes burned with clarity and unwavering resolve. Beneath the madness of his words, the end of a long and arduous journey seemed to draw near.
“Would I have come seeking you without such resolve? That is what I wish to say.”
“Then so it shall be. Let us endure hardship together from this point forward.”
The Blade Emperor Sect Leader extended his hand, and Cheon So-hyun grasped it without hesitation. It was a covenant forged before countless disciples of the sect.
Cheon So-hyun’s lips curved into a long smile.
“I am deeply grateful for this opportunity.”
Though he could not yet fully trust this man, it was undeniable that he had taken another step toward his goal.
At that moment, Chang Sun’s voice rang out powerfully across the arena.
“Please welcome the victor of the final stage with thunderous acclaim! The champion is the Third Prince of the Cheonma Divine Cult, Cheon So-hyun!”
The suppressed cheers erupted all at once.
“Waaaaaaa!!”
“Congratulations, Your Highness!”
“Cheon So-hyun! Cheon So-hyun!”
Boom! Boom!
The entire arena trembled as spectators stomped their feet and leaped in jubilation.
The fervor of the arena reached its zenith. It had been a dramatic victory indeed. Where anxiety had been washed away, electric exhilaration and goosebumps now rose upon countless skins.
Yet not all offered their praise.
Creak.
In the waiting area where the disciples of the Wuzhong Sect gathered.
Tak Mu-won ground his teeth together.
“All of this… for something so trivial….”
Dense demonic energy flowed from between Tak Mu-won’s ragged breaths. Sensing the ominous aura, his First Disciple Jong San hastily spoke up.
“…Master. There are many eyes watching. Since it appears to be over, shall we not depart?”
“Many eyes?”
Tak Mu-won turned his head. Jong San flinched at his fierce expression—it was not one befitting someone renowned for his virtue and integrity.
“Who here concerns themselves with this?”
Tak Mu-won gestured toward the arena stage.
“Look closely. Consider the true purpose of this stage. Why would The Demon Master go to such lengths to gather so many cultists?”
“….”
“Whether it be myself, you, or even the sect leaders of the Three Demon Sects—we were all merely backdrops to elevate the Third Prince. Your Priest lost his arm simply to serve as that backdrop.”
Tak Mu-won’s gaze grew sharp. His words came like cutting blades, spat from between his teeth.
“Even if he clings to life, for a Warrior it is agony no different from death. And you, the First Disciple of the Wuzhong Sect, find this acceptable?”
Jong San exhaled slowly and shook his head.
“It is unacceptable. It should never have happened this way. Yet the tournament is not finished. There remains time until the finals, so we shall exert ourselves to compensate for our Priest’s….”
“Ha, you still have not come to your senses. Exert yourselves?”
“…Yes?”
“Did you not witness the Third Prince’s martial prowess? That is a monster. For one who spent half a year as a corpse to achieve such power means his talent and the very density of his existence transcend the ordinary. The quality of his effort operates on an entirely different plane.”
Tak Mu-won’s eyes grew progressively darker. A gray, ominous light radiated outward, pressing down upon Jong San’s spirit.
“Yet you believe you can catch up through effort? With merely seven weeks until the next match, how do you propose to close such a gap?”
“….”
“Your reality—no, all of your realities—falls short not only of Cheon So-hyun but even of the Unnamed Guest. Do you truly harbor such hollow hopes, that defeat might be acceptable if you merely display your hidden strength?”
The disciples’ expressions darkened further beneath his scathing words.
Because these words came from one known for his virtue and moral character, the pain they inflicted cut deeper still. The disciples could not bring themselves to raise their heads.
It felt as though they had been stripped bare.
Crack.
Jong San’s fists trembled violently. Rage and helplessness coursed through his entire body.
How had circumstances deteriorated to this point?
Until yesterday—no, until before the Priest faced the Unnamed Guest—the days had been no different from usual.
Though a subtle tension lingered, the bond between the senior and junior disciples remained deep, and Master had never ceased offering encouragement with his warm gaze.
What had destroyed all of this?
No matter how much he turned it over in his mind, there was only one answer.
‘Cheon So-hyun.’
Jong San’s sharp gaze fixed upon the fighting stage.
The Third Prince descending from the arena and the cheers pouring down upon him twisted his insides like swallowing burning coals. It was a scene utterly divorced from this place, like a picture cut and pasted from elsewhere.
‘All for that. The name of the Wuzhong Sect has been tainted.’
Jong San clenched his fists tighter. His hands turned pale as his nails dug in, and soon blood began to seep from the wounds.
He opened his mouth heavily.
“Given the pattern thus far, that would indeed be the case.”
Tak Mu-won’s eyebrows rose slightly.
“…What?”
“Cheon So-hyun will never return to full condition.”
His gaze remained fixed upon the Third Prince.
“Feet unbalanced and suspended in mid-air, the impact upon the Shénquè acupoint and the ribs—even if the Unnamed Guest expelled the poison, he cannot eliminate the toxicity that has already permeated the body in a single stroke.”
Jong San met Tak Mu-won’s eyes.
“Though the injuries are beyond recovery, the possibility of victory remains slim. Pursuing victory against Cheon So-hyun immediately would be nothing but greed. Therefore, I wish to defer this matter to a future day.”
“A future day?”
Jong San lowered his head.
“Please transmit to me the ultimate technique of the Blade Emperor’s Way.”
“…!”
The disciples’ eyes trembled violently as they fell silent. Bewilderment spread across their faces.
The ultimate technique of the Blade Emperor’s Way—Entering the Divine Path to Annihilation.
It was a vicious and brutal killing technique that should never be unleashed except when facing a mortal enemy in a life-or-death confrontation.
Since the Patriarch had instructed that transmission itself be forbidden except in times of war, none of the disciples had yet mastered this technique.
Jong San spoke.
“With Entering the Divine Path to Annihilation, even if Cheon So-hyun recovers from his injuries and regains his strength, I will be able to contend with him sufficiently. Through desperate effort, I shall draw forth the finest form and achieve vengeance without fail in the days to come.”
“Vengeance… can you bear such a burden? Your opponent is the heir of the Cheon Family.”
“As long as one walks the path of the blade, both parties stand on equal ground. If we follow the principle of the strong, there is no reason to retreat simply because he is an heir.”
Killing intent flickered in his eyes.
“Moreover… is the Cheon Family represented only by the Third Prince within our sect?”
Tak Mu-won regarded him silently for a moment, then turned his gaze toward the other disciples.
“Do you all share his sentiment?”
The startled disciples exchanged glances before responding with resounding voices.
“We do!”
“Yes!”
Tak Mu-won stared at them intently.
“Hmm.”
He appeared to be contemplating with a grave expression, yet internally he was swallowing curses.
‘Pathetic wretches—at last, a proper answer flows from their lips.’
He did not expect that transmitting this technique would enable them to kill Cheon So-hyun. Cheon So-hyun had already transcended the realm of late-stage masters and become a monster.
‘Yet it is not as though we possess no means.’
Tak Mu-won surveyed the faces of his disciples.
“Yes… only then can you truly be called disciples of the Wuzhong Sect. Your unwillingness to surrender despite facing such a wall is admirable. I shall bestow upon all of you the Poison Successor Divine Art as well. Complete your finest technique.”
The disciples’ pupils dilated greatly.
“Pardon? The Poison Successor Divine Art?”
Tak Mu-won nodded.
“Better to sharpen your blades while awaiting that future day than to be treated as a folding screen and mocked. If you are to refine yourselves, you must become sharper still. You did not endure such grueling training merely to suffer contempt in a place like this, did you?”
The disciples examined one another’s faces. Soon, unwavering resolve gleamed in their eyes.
“You are right!”
“No matter what suffering awaits, we shall persevere and restore honor to our sect!”
“Good. I shall determine the sect leader based on future achievements and results. This is an opportunity that will not come again—do not squander it.”
“Yes!”
Hearing the resounding response, Tak Mu-won’s face settled into its customary benevolent expression.
‘Tsk.’
Though I had redirected my course, the fact that I was abandoning the confrontation left a bitter aftertaste in my mouth.
‘Now is a time for restraint, but still… it would be proper to offer something, at least.’

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