Heavenly Demon Divine Saint - Chapter 84

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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 84
Upon a branch in the darkening forest.
“Will this be alright?”
“What do you mean?”
Cheol Jo, a member of the Yuyun Team, asked carefully while observing Gwi Jeong Bang’s main hall. From within, violent chaos erupted—thunderous crashes and sharp cries echoed without pause.
“Based on what we’ve gathered, those controlling the interior don’t appear to belong to Gwi Jeong Bang. We’d need interrogation to be certain, but given the circumstances, it seems they were destroyed during an attempt to expand their influence, likely through deception.”
“That would make sense.”
Cheol Jo looked toward his superior. Ryu Jeong-hak stood silently with arms crossed, his gaze fixed forward.
This puzzled Cheol Jo. Wasn’t it said that the Black Path, far more formidable than Gwi Jeong Bang, had welcomed the Third Prince from within?
‘He must know that Gwi Jeong Bang alone is no trivial opponent.’
Destroying a lesser sect brings no advancement in martial mastery.
Therefore, the Yuyun Team had carefully selected only those forces worthy of the Third Prince’s risk, then proposed them.
“If I may be so bold, shouldn’t we enter alongside him?”
Ryu Jeong-hak shook his head.
“Variables arising during a mission are inevitable. What matters more is how we respond afterward, so focus your efforts on maintaining vigilance.”
“Understood.”
A sharp gleam settled in Ryu Jeong-hak’s eyes. He was peering inside through his inner sight.
While gathering his energy to prepare for any contingency, his gaze remained fixed upon the Third Prince.
‘As I suspected… he’s been concealing his true power.’
The Third Prince, now engaged in real combat, radiated martial prowess incomparable to his sparring sessions.
Fierce yet perfectly controlled straight strikes poured forth relentlessly. Even as he delivered rapid, powerful blows, his energy manipulation remained flawless.
Despite multiple sparring matches, Ryu Jeong-hak had failed to grasp his true nature—a realization that made him heighten his vigilance even further.
* * *
Within Gwi Jeong Bang’s hall.
A sickening crunch.
Yong Gol swiftly severed the subordinate Cheon So-hyun had thrown at him. As blood sprayed across his body, Yong Gol’s expression twisted into something far more grotesque.
“A green brat spouting nonsense. Were you never taught manners?”
Cheon So-hyun narrowed his brow, regarding him. Strangely, being called a pig seemed to irritate him far more than losing his subordinates.
“I’d show manners to someone worth showing them to. Few possess judgment as keen as mine. Stop your prattling and come down here.”
“I don’t know who sent you, but you’re not one blessed with a long life.”
Yong Gol drew his blade, unleashing a long crescent-shaped sword aura.
Despite his bulk, the speed was remarkably swift. As the sword aura tore across the ground toward him, Cheon So-hyun countered with his palm technique.
A thunderous boom.
Sharp pain shot through his palm as if it were being severed. Cheon So-hyun’s brow furrowed deeply.
‘His inner energy runs this deep?’
His palm technique’s force shattered instantly. The sword aura even cut through the protective technique of Gwangak Gyeol without diminishing its power.
This was a master possessing far deeper inner energy than anticipated.
Yong Gol’s smile deepened at Cheon So-hyun’s reaction.
“What a vacant expression. Now you understand how vast the heavens are. How many like you do you think I’ve encountered? Dealt with one yesterday, another the day before, and a pair just this afternoon. All tediously dull. No novelty whatsoever. Ryeong Ha.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Before that fool spouts his pathetic apologies, I need to observe his footwork first. Exploit every opening that appears and tear into him.”
“Yes!”
Wi Yeong-ha bowed respectfully before issuing orders to his subordinates.
“Attack all at once. I’ll join in when the moment is right.”
“Yes!”
Cheon So-hyun pushed off the ground lightly, continuously widening the distance.
Crash! Bang!
Yong Gol’s sword energy surged forward while hidden blades flew from all directions. Amid the chaos of countless sword techniques, Cheon So-hyun displayed movements approaching divine grace.
Twisting his entire body to evade the broad blade from the side, he unleashed waves of force while searching for an opening to counterattack.
After several intense exchanges, Cheon So-hyun’s breathing grew ragged.
Screech!
Wi Yeong-ha, having closed the distance, drew his blade with lightning speed. It was a killing strike aimed at the throat, executed without a moment’s hesitation.
Facing the ferocious killing intent, Cheon So-hyun neither blocked nor dodged. Instead, he stamped the ground with tremendous force.
Boom!
As the earth trembled and his opponent’s balance shattered, the razor-sharp blade merely grazed the front of his garment.
Crash! Bang!
Blade and fist collided, sparks erupting. Cheon So-hyun pressed Wi Yeong-ha while speaking.
“The way you move tells me you’re not from Gwi Jeong Bang. We’ve been fighting without even introducing ourselves. So, what Black Path rabble are you crawling out from?”
The Gui Jeong Bang Master, whom I had confirmed through appearance analysis, was already dead beneath the stone pile.
Given the circumstances, it seemed I had fallen into their scheme, and the possibility of Yuhyeon Merchant Company’s involvement was significant enough to warrant investigation.
“Ha, you accepted a contract without even knowing who your enemy was? Foolish wretch. If this continues until your leader arrives…”
Cheon So-hyun let out a hollow laugh.
“You’re more naive than you appear. Were you really expecting that?”
“…What?”
“Pitiful fool, your leader is the kind of man who could serve as a model for the Black Path’s worthlessness. Would he really risk himself? Joining you? Nonsense. He’ll just throw a few sword energies from behind and call it a day. Don’t you realize he’s using his pathetic words to send his subordinates to their deaths while trying to gauge my martial prowess?”
Yong Gol, watching from the platform, chuckled and spoke.
“How amusing. Does a mountain tiger ever entangle itself with a pack of stray dogs? Even mongrels have opponents suited to their station. I’m growing bored. Finish this.”
“Yes!”
Wi Yeong-ha stepped forward and brought his blade down vertically.
As he gathered his energy with full force, the once-fluid sword form transformed moment by moment. Shedding technique and unleashing explosive power, it had become a killing blade meant solely for annihilation.
More ferocious sword winds poured forth than before, but…
Crash!
“Ugh.”
Cheon So-hyun counterattacked lightly.
The trajectory of the sword technique was already familiar to me. I drove in from the side, driving successive punches toward the shoulder, jaw, solar plexus, and throat.
‘Amitabha!’
I could have decided the match with a single move, but I deployed my fists while conserving my internal energy as much as possible.
Whoosh!
Just as Wi Yeong-ha was falling, a pristine sword energy shot through, bisecting his body.
“…!”
It was Yong Gol’s blade energy. Cheon So-hyun immediately crossed his hands and unleashed his internal force in response.
Crash!
Driven back several steps by the overwhelming power, Yong Gol surged forward with lightning speed, launching his assault with a smirk playing at his lips.
“I thought you were some mindless killer, but you’ve got decent footwork. Your instincts aren’t bad either.”
Having exhausted his internal reserves, Cheon So-hyun could only give ground helplessly.
He needed time to catch his breath, even for a moment. Desperately defending, he continued to retreat, yet small and large blade wounds began accumulating across his body.
“So who are you exactly? Who sent you? The lazy eldest? Or the second one who doesn’t know his place and meddles about? Or perhaps you’re a ronin hired by the Yuhyeon Merchant Company?”
Boom!
While Yong Gol was still running his mouth, Cheon So-hyun, finally catching his breath, burst forth with fist energy and deflected the blade.
A shockwave that shook the earth sent both of them flying apart.
“The Yuhyeon Merchant Company?”
“Ah, so it was them? That’s a bit disappointing. No wait, actually this works out better. How much did those money-grubbing bastards pay you?”
“…What?”
“The way merchant companies recruit masters is always the same. Whatever they offered, I’ll double it. Kill Dan Ju and come under me. I’m not a man swayed by personal feelings. Dan Ju will be here soon anyway, so there’s no need to search him out.”
“Dan Ju is coming to this place?”
Yong Gol nodded as if it were obvious.
“When the master holding the leash calls, the dog must come running. Finish this matter by taking Dan Ju’s head.”
Cheon So-hyun met his gaze. After just a few exchanges, Yong Gol was already convinced of his own superiority, his demeanor utterly relaxed.
‘Is Dan Ju being held by leverage for some kind of deal?’
Cheon So-hyun asked, trying to glean even the smallest piece of information.
“Funny man. Come under me? Now of all times?”
Yong Gol’s mouth twisted into a grotesque smile.
“Subordinates can always be replaced. Besides, there wasn’t a single warrior worth calling genuine among them, including that spy. Right now I’m in need of talent, so work under me for just ten years, then you can strike out on your own.”
“Talent? What scheme requires you to need more rabble?”
At that bold question, Yong Gol’s smile deepened.
“Right. You need to know what I’m planning to get interested. Starting with Gangseong Province, I plan to unite the Black Path forces across the borderlands and claim a seat among the Nine Pillars. If you come under me, you’ll receive thirty percent of the profits gained in that process…”
At this unexpected answer, Cheon So-hyun let out a hollow laugh.
“You’re more insane than you look. A bloated fool who can’t even deal with a single excess pound, and you want to join the Dark Lotus Society?”
Yong Gol, whose face was plastered with greed, swept his gleaming eyes across Cheon So-hyun.
He felt no anger at the insults. Bad habits could always be beaten out of someone later. Instead, he was intrigued by this young man’s considerable skill and sharp information network.
“Heh. This isn’t common knowledge, yet your information is thorough. That’s right. I plan to build my forces and become a pillar of the Dark Lotus Society. I’m offering you the chance to participate in that glorious first step, so consider it. Anything is better than death.”
The Dark Lotus Society was the grand alliance of the Black Path, standing in opposition to the Martial Alliance which was centered around the Nine Sects and One Faction and the Five Great Families.
Supporting the Dark Lotus Society were eight pillars—the Paljoo—and Yong Gol seemed to be aiming for the next position after them.
Which made this all the more absurd.
“So you’re aiming for that seat with merely this level of skill?”
The Paljoo represented the eight major forces that dominated the Black Path martial world.
The masters of the Paljoo were absolute experts comparable to the Demonic Sect’s Demon Master or Demon Sovereign, making the gulf between them and Yong Gol immeasurable.
“If you’re going to dream, dream big, but isn’t a pig becoming a dragon just nonsense? How does that make any sense?”
Yong Gol’s brow furrowed deeply. His patience was wearing thin at the continued insults.
“This is the last time I’ll tolerate such drivel. Listen well. If I unite the rotten Black Path and gain the Dark Lotus Society’s attention, I can ascend to the position of Nine Pillars. I already have sufficient funds and plans—what I lack is talent. If you come under me…”
“Enough of your nonsense.”
Uuuuuuung!
A sound like swarming bees erupted from Cheon So-hyun’s entire body as the pitch-black Sammaejinhwa coiled around both his hands.
As if proving all his accumulated progress, the intensified flame spiraled outward with devastating force. Every nerve blazed awake, and tremendous vitality surged through his entire frame.
The moment Cheon So-hyun unleashed his Great Force Palm, Yong Gol countered by releasing sword energy in a cross formation.
“…!”
In that instant, Yong Gol’s eyes widened as if they might split.
The palm force that had been struck by his sword energy showed no sign of stopping.
Rather than dissipating, it surged forward with terrifying speed, radiating a suffocating heat that tightened around him.
‘…He was holding back this much power?’
Having confirmed the gap in inner strength and been certain of his own superiority, he was utterly flustered.
He desperately swung his blade, extracting sword energy five more times in succession.
The moment he barely shattered the palm force that had reached his very face.
Kwaaang!
Cheon So-hyun’s fist pierced through the smoke and struck Yong Gol’s chest with tremendous force.
“Kugh!”
Cheon So-hyun reflexively knocked aside Yong Gol’s raised blade, then seized the opening created by his broken stance to sweep at his calf.
Yong Gol, losing his balance and staggering, pushed off the ground with his opposite foot to create distance. Despite his massive frame, his speed was remarkably swift—though only relative to his bulk.
Thud!
Cheon So-hyun closed the gap with a single step and drove his fist into Yong Gol’s solar plexus. Then, seizing his arm as he gasped in pain, he hurled him to the ground.
“Cough! You’ve been hiding your true strength all this time…!”
“Be quiet.”
Kwaaang! Crash! Crash!!
Cheon So-hyun slammed Yong Gol against the floor six more times before twisting his wrist and glaring down at him.
“Answer me one question. Your mental cultivation technique is pathetic, your swordsmanship is pathetic—barely worth looking at—so how did you accumulate this much inner strength?”

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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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