Murim Login - Chapter 680

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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 680
In a world flowing at a languid pace.
The pale blue-white flames that erupted, wrapping around my fist, burned through every sight that flickered past in that fleeting instant like kindling.
My punch, fired like a cannon toward the Black Hand Fist Demon’s heart.
The figure of him stretching out his hands in panic, his eyes bulging as though they might burst from their sockets.
Yet even so, the black qi that was helplessly pushed back and the protective qi that scattered to pieces the moment it touched the flames.
And beyond that—the brilliant flash of light that cut across space and drew near.
Kwaaaang!
A tremendous roar and tremor.
Everything unfolded in an instant, and in that same instant it ended, as a scorching hot wind swept across that place.
No—the same held true for a radius of dozens of zhang.
Mist born from the heat and steam created by the thermal energy consumed the surroundings and obscured my vision.
Shhhhhhh.
I stood motionless in place, gazing into the pale mist, until a voice flowed forth from beyond it.
“Truly remarkable. More than I had anticipated.”
A voice tinged with what seemed like genuine admiration. I pulled White Flame toward me with Void Grasping and replied calmly.
“I do tend to punch above my weight for my age. The Heavenly Demon or Mu-shin probably weren’t even at this level.”
“How presumptuous. Yet I shall acknowledge it. You have more than earned the right to speak such words.”
“Earned the right? You’re the one who got scared and tried to interfere. Don’t spout such nonsense.”
Though my voice flowed from my lips with composure, my heart burned with bitterness within.
‘Damn it.’
That brilliant flash that entered my vision at the last moment.
If it hadn’t been the Twin Wheels sent by the Thin Elder, the Black Hand Fist Demon would have suffered catastrophic internal injuries or perished on the spot.
‘I already expected it, but the timing of its arrival was far too exquisite.’
In that brief moment, I had only two choices.
Either end the Black Hand Fist Demon in exchange for having my neck severed by the Twin Wheels and becoming a Dullahan candidate, or let him escape and live myself.
Of course, my choice was naturally the latter.
I struck the Twin Wheels with a punch that changed direction mid-air, and the Black Hand Fist Demon didn’t even dare to seize that opening, hastily withdrawing his body.
A brief clash that began and ended in the blink of an eye.
Though it might appear on the surface that we had reached an even stalemate, this was a severe loss for me.
The Black Hand Fist Demon, having tasted a harsh blow, would now be far more cautious and thorough in facing me than before.
An opponent’s carelessness is the greatest weakness of all, but the chance to exploit that carelessness comes only once.
‘If this continues…’
It won’t be easy. No—this fight has become far too difficult.
I reached out toward the figure hidden beyond the mist and opened my mouth.
“Our Black Hand. You who learned martial arts ass-backwards over an extra fifty years of life. Where are you hiding?”
I wondered if he’d just ignore me, but the Black Hand Fist Demon was a person of such excellent character that he answered the other’s words with utmost sincerity.
“…Shut your mouth.”
“Is it just my imagination? Your voice seems much smaller than before. Did your balls shrivel up too after getting a taste of the flames?”
“…You. Taking advantage of the one moment this old man let his guard down, and now your arrogance knows no bounds. Do you truly believe such an opportunity will come to you again?”
I let out a soft chuckle.
Thinking of Black Hand Fist Demon’s ineptitude, it wasn’t entirely wrong to say he’d seized upon a moment of carelessness—but that was something only a novice would claim.
Not an old monster who’d lived long enough to have earned his years.
“Even as you speak, doesn’t it feel pathetic? Hmm?”
“I’d tear you to shreds and it still wouldn’t satisfy me…!”
“Enough.”
Black Hand Fist Demon’s cry was cut short by that cold voice. Beyond the mist still swirling in all directions, the gaunt figure of the Thin Elder emerged.
Crunch.
The mud, baked hard by terrible heat, crumbled like sand beneath the old man’s feet.
He held a pair of wheels with serrated blades sprouting from them like saw teeth, and he shook his sleeves lightly.
Whoooosh.
A cold wind descended upon the scorching heat, and as it swept away the mist obscuring vision, the landscape around us—transformed from a swampland teeming with all manner of poisons into a desert—was laid bare.
“So this is the Blazing Divine Technique I’ve only heard tales of. Impressive. What realm of cultivation does this represent?”
Toward the old man who asked with genuine admiration, I extended my blade and replied.
“Three thousand, twenty-five realms.”
“Does that number not seem absurdly high?”
“The realms of martial arts have no true end.”
“A foolish question receives a wise answer. Fire King has trained his disciple well.”
“That much is certainly true. But why did your parents raise their child so poorly?”
A cutting jab delivered with full conviction. Yet the old man remained unmoved.
“Well, if I ever have occasion to visit the underworld, I’ll ask them then.”
Crunch.
He advanced with steps as casual as a leisurely stroll. I measured the distance and answered.
“Since we’re on the subject, why not pay them a visit today?”
“A shame. It seems I’ll have no reason to venture near that place for some time.”
“You shouldn’t put these things off. Your parents must be furious in Nine Springs. Their child, raised so deficiently, doesn’t even come to visit.”
“You’ve misjudged this time. I am an orphan of heaven and earth, never having received anyone’s care, so I cannot be accused of filial impiety.”
Crunch.
The third step, already taken.
Mu Ya-ho, who had become a poorly groomed poodle instead of a majestic Baek Ho after having his fur shaved by the dual wheels, let out a low whimper, and I stared at the twin wheels slowly rotating in the old man’s hands and muttered.
“Then I can’t even ask him why he raised you this way in the afterlife. After all, I don’t know his face.”
“Now that you mention it, that’s true. Thank you for the advice.”
“Then what about that fool sneaking along behind you right now?”
Black Hand Fist Demon spat out a brief curse, and the old man answered calmly.
“Huk Soo—that friend shares a similar fate.”
“I’m genuinely curious, is this a requirement for Dark Heaven? Or is it some kind of trend?”
The old man took another step instead of answering.
Crunch.
And the moment that peculiarly distinct sound pierced my ears, I could see it. The blue radiance emanating from the dual wheels held in the old man’s hands.
Zzzzzt! Whoooosh!
Two beams of light streaked through the air with a subtle tearing sound.
Like living serpents, the twin wheels descended with grotesque, unsettling movements, and beneath them charged the Black Hand Fist Demon, his eyes gleaming with madness.
Screeeech!
Attacks erupting simultaneously from two directions—no, three.
–
Roooaarrr!
As Baek Ho’s roar exploded from behind me, I brought the White Flame Spear down with all my strength.
Boom!
A violent recoil transmitted through the thunderous impact. Having deflected one of the twin wheels, I sensed the wind rushing from the blind spot and turned my head.
Whoosh, crackle!
A matter of mere inches.
As strands of hair severed by the force scattered through the air, the Black Hand Fist Demon, who had already closed to within three paces, shook his tattered sleeves.
“Nooogh!”
Boom-boom-boom-boom-boom!
Palms thrust wide open unleashed a torrent of force that shook the very space around us.
I gently drove the spear blade into the black energy crashing toward me like a tidal wave.
Heavenly Dragon Divine Spear. First form.
Heavenly Dragon’s Tail.
Whoosh, shhhhaaaa!
Cyan-white flames rippled outward. The Black Hand Fist Demon, startled by the dragon’s tail cutting through the black force without hesitation, released a sharp cry and twisted his body.
Crackle!
A sharp cutting sound. But unlike me, the Black Hand Fist Demon’s injury did not end with severed hair.
From the tip of his blunt nose, which had been sliced without his notice, fresh blood dripped steadily.
“You… how dare you…!”
I understood with certainty: even if the Black Hand Fist Demon fought me ten more times, he could never emerge victorious.
That ancient monster’s towering pride and the fury embedded in his heart had paralyzed his reason, and those minute fractures were nothing but opportunity for me.
‘Now.’
Whoosh!
A single step.
The distance of several paces between the Black Hand Fist Demon and me vanished in an instant, and over a dozen possible movements flashed through my mind.
Choosing one among them was simplicity itself.
Whoosh!
From heaven to earth. Cyan-white flames bloomed atop the spear blade as it descended with a subtle tearing sound.
Heavenly Dragon Divine Spear. Second form.
‘Heavenly Strike.’
Whoosh. Kabooom!
A snowball grows larger the more it rolls, and water becomes a wave when its current strengthens.
The Black Hand Fist Demon’s eyes widened as he gazed up at the single streak of flame tearing across the void.
“Hah…!”
Twin palms thrust upward with a sharp cry. In that brief moment when the hastily summoned force collided with the flames and dissipated, blue flashes of light streaked in from both sides.
Whiiiing!
Throat. And chest.
This was an attack that couldn’t be evaded by movement alone. In a split second of judgment, I twisted the spear blade that had been aimed at Black Hand Fist Demon and swung it around.
Crash!
No matter who I was, I couldn’t overcome the four characters of irresistible force.
Screeeech!
Just as my body, having lost its center from the tremendous recoil, was pushed helplessly backward, a silvery figure descended like a phantom.
Shriick!
Not a word, not a breath.
The Old Master, who until now had only sent twin wheels from the rear, began his own battle with cold composure, yet with precise speed and flow.
Just like this very moment.
Whoosh! Thud thud!
Scorching and frigid.
Even though I twisted my form at the last instant, the result didn’t change much.
The finger wind that burst from the tips of those long, withered fingers like twigs pierced through my shoulder, while the blade of White Flame that had been advancing toward the Old Master lost its direction and wavered.
And dodging a spear blade that had lost its force was far too easy for the Old Master.
Whiisk!
The spear blade cutting through empty air without resistance.
Gritting my teeth, I straightened my form and opened my remaining hand. Simultaneously, I hurled it toward the Old Master’s chest, blazing with heat and flame.
Whoosh. Fuuuuung!
The Flame Divine Palm, advancing while incinerating everything in its path, reflected in the Old Master’s pupils.
Heat beyond description, burning without cease.
Yet seeing the Old Master’s eyes still cold and composed, I felt an inexplicable chill.
‘This is…’
An unidentifiable unease. And the ominous premonition that seized my entire body soon revealed itself as reality.
Swish.
Within that brief moment split and split again, the Old Master slowly extended his hand.
No, slowness wasn’t limited to that alone.
My palm strike advancing toward his chest, Black Hand Fist Demon and Baek Ho rushing from behind us—all were the same.
And with the cold energy flowing from the wrinkled Old Master’s hand, time that had been frozen began to flow once more.
Crack! Crackle crackle crackle!
Finally, two palms collided against each other.
Cyan-white flames and pristine cold energy clashed and intermingled.
Crack crack crack!
Everything was scorching and freezing all at once.
Two lights of different colors flickered endlessly before my eyes, and unprecedented martial power shattered and shook all directions.
Boooooom!
A roar as if heaven and earth were splitting apart.
And I witnessed it. I could hear it simultaneously.
“I was late with introductions.”
A formidable yin-cold energy suppressed the gradually dimming flames.
“I am called the Great Snow Ghost.”
A frigid voice flowing through breath white as fresh snow.
Crash!

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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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