The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 110
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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 110.
In that moment, not only Bu Eunseol’s group but even Namgung Sae-ah found herself captivated, her beautiful eyes fixed in an entranced gaze.
“Then shall we proceed?”
As So Gung Ju’s voice rang out, Namgung Sae-ah, who had finally regained her composure, nodded her head.
Jaha Secret Chamber of Shin Nyeo Gung
A massive underground cavern located within the inner sanctum of Shin Nyeo Gung, it had originally been a repository for secret techniques passed down through generations.
However, as moisture accumulated over time, the chamber was sealed off—until the Shin Nyeo Gung Master reinstalled the Twenty-Four Heavenly Positions Formation here.
Thud, thud, thud.
After descending deep into the underground passage, a colossal iron gate finally came into view.
As Namgung Sae-ah touched several engravings carved into the iron gate, it creaked open with a grinding sound.
“This place…”
Nam Goong Woon, gazing into the chamber, widened his eyes in astonishment.
The floor of the stone chamber, illuminated by torches on all sides, was crisscrossed with intricate lines, resembling an enormous game board.
And there stood twenty-four colossal statues, each towering over eight feet in height.
“What is all this?”
In response to Nam Goong Woon’s question, Namgung Sae-ah spoke in a hushed voice.
“This is the Twenty-Four Heavenly Positions Formation. If you can pierce through those twenty-four heavenly positions and emerge into the stone chamber on the opposite side, you will have passed the trial.”
Nam Goong Woon, as a talented member of the Nangung Family, had achieved considerable mastery not only in swordsmanship but also in formation techniques.
Upon observing the positions where the statues stood, his expression grew grave.
He could see traces of illusion formations designed to shake the human spirit, as well as signs of countless traps scattered throughout.
“This… is truly a formation that demands one risk their very life.”
“You may withdraw even now if you wish.”
It was then that So Gung Ju, wearing a veil, spoke.
“This formation cannot be traversed alone under any circumstances. At minimum, two masters thoroughly versed in formation techniques are required for it to be possible.”
“I will attempt it regardless.”
Nam Goong Woon took a deep breath.
He lacked experience in the Gangho, but he was not deficient in swordsmanship or formation studies.
“Would it be acceptable if I went first?”
Nam Goong Woon flashed a slight smile toward Bu Eunseol.
His calculation was that even if he failed, observing the formation’s mechanics beforehand would prove beneficial.
‘So he was not merely a wastrel after all.’
Bu Eunseol, recognizing Nam Goong Woon’s consideration, nodded her head.
“Very well.”
“Then I shall begin!”
Nam Goong Woon drew the Golden Needle Sword from his waist and slowly entered the Twenty-Four Heavenly Positions Formation.
“Hmm.”
The moment he stepped into the formation, Nam Goong Woon’s expression contorted.
As soon as he entered the formation, something deeply unsettling burrowed into his mind, a sensation of mental intrusion.
Whoosh!
In that instant, a nearby statue wielded its massive greatsword in a sweeping arc.
It wasn’t merely a statue—it was a mechanical construct capable of moving like a living person.
“Tch.”
But my mind had been so preoccupied that my evasion came a fraction too late.
Whoosh!
The massive blade scraped across Nam Goong Woon’s back as it narrowly passed by.
‘That was close.’
Releasing a breath of relief, I surveyed the stone pillars positioned throughout the chamber.
‘So Gung Ju was right.’
Dozens of formations overlapped one another, and the gate of life was firmly guarded by these pillars. Moreover, with each movement, the formation shifted chaotically like a constellation.
‘Impossible.’
No matter how intently I studied it, I couldn’t discern the method to break the formation. So I gathered all my inner force and channeled it into the Golden Needle Sword.
‘If it’s come to this, I’ll destroy every pillar with my swordsmanship!’
Whooom!
As my vital energy flowed to the blade’s edge, a low resonance rang out.
“Hah!”
With a fierce shout, I struck the pillar looming before me with all my might.
Boom!
But the dull impact against stone was all I felt—the pillar merely shifted back a single step.
“What?”
I had unleashed a technique capable of shattering even a Diamond Statue in one blow. Yet it only pushed back a single step?
‘The Main House’s swordsmanship couldn’t overcome this?’
In truth, the pillar hadn’t been damaged because the formation’s illusion had caused my blade to miss entirely.
But unaware of this, Nam Goong Woon cried out with humiliation.
“The Nangung Family’s sword can destroy all things!”
Doubling my inner force, I unleashed the Heavenly Palace Flying Swallow Sword once more.
Crash! Boom!
In an instant, dust and debris erupted from the stone chamber’s floor.
Yet despite my full exertion, the pillars stood unmoved and resolute.
“Snap out of it! Your blade isn’t making contact at all!”
Heuk Pyo’s shout from a distance made Namgung Sae-ah shake her head.
“It’s useless. Once you’re caught in the formation, you can’t hear anything.”
“Damn!”
I drove the Golden Needle Sword into the stone floor, biting my lip.
‘There’s no way this Golden Needle Sword can’t destroy a single iron statue. It must be the formation’s influence affecting everything.’
After a moment’s thought, I struck the pillar with an ordinary technique rather than the Heavenly Palace Flying Swallow Sword.
But with a dull thud, the pillar still stood firm.
‘Even a light strike produces that sound?’
Only then did Nam Goong Woon realize the blade hadn’t made contact at all, and his eyes gleamed with sudden clarity.
‘Come to think of it, I don’t need to confront these pillars at all. I just need to advance in the opposite direction.’
As composure returned, strength surged through my body once more.
Changing his approach, he began to advance forward while continuously deploying his footwork, navigating through the attacks of the twenty-four ceiling blades.
Whoosh!
Yet this method was far from easy.
The assault from twenty-four ceiling blades was flawlessly coordinated, and the formation array beneath his feet shifted endlessly.
If he were merely defending with resolve, it would be manageable—but advancing while evading attacks required more than a quarter of an hour just to take a single step.
‘Damn it! Damn it!’
Even after more than an hour had passed, Nam Goong Woon had not yet traversed half of the Twenty-Four Ceiling Blade Formation.
The greater problem was that Nam Goong Woon’s stamina and inner force were steadily depleting.
‘Because of the illusions, I cannot gauge where or how those great swords will rain down.’
As Nam Goong Woon continuously deployed his footwork, he felt his once razor-sharp senses gradually dulling.
Moreover, the floor beneath him kept shifting dizzily, making it nearly impossible to even stand still.
Great swords erupting from unknown locations. The stone chamber floor spinning endlessly in circles. Nam Goong Woon found even standing still to be so disorienting that nausea threatened to overwhelm him.
Whoosh! Crack!
As he dodged a great sword plummeting toward his head, another massive blade exploited the opening and grazed his shoulder.
“Ugh!”
Once his stance crumbled, Nam Goong Woon’s footwork began to unravel.
Within the time it took to drink a cup of tea, his body was increasingly drenched in blood.
“Stop!”
At that moment, So Gung Ju withdrew the Sect Master’s Token from her robes and spoke in a pained voice.
“Stop this at once.”
“Understood.”
Namgung Sae-ah received the Sect Master’s Token and hurriedly planted it into one corner of the stone chamber.
With a thunderous sound, the floor that had been spinning dizzily came to a halt, and the ceiling blades wielding their great swords gradually ceased their movements.
“Huff… Huff…”
Standing in the center of the stone chamber, Nam Goong Woon gasped for breath.
Had the formation array not been stopped, his body would have been shredded to pieces by the great swords within moments.
“Young Master, are you alright?”
Heuk Pyo, standing beside Bu Eunseol, quickly approached to support him, but Nam Goong Woon waved his sleeve.
“I’m fine. Nothing to worry about.”
His words belied his condition—his gait wavered considerably, and his complexion was deathly pale.
As he emerged from the chamber, Namgung Sae-ah spoke in a cold voice.
“You reckless fool.”
Glancing at the Sect Master’s Token embedded in the wall, she addressed Nam Goong Woon in a low voice.
“Know that you owe your life to So Gung Ju’s mercy.”
Upon hearing this, Nam Goong Woon withdrew from Heuk Pyo’s support and clasped his hands together with effort.
“I am grateful for your consideration. Haha.”
“Think nothing of it.”
As So Gung Ju offered a light bow, Nam Goong Woon stumbled once more.
Namgung Sae-ah spoke to the Si Bi standing behind So Gung Ju.
“Guide him to the Medicine Hall.”
“Understood.”
As Heuk Pyo continued to support him, Nam Goong Woon waved his hand dismissively.
“Don’t worry about me. Stay by Bu Eunseol’s side.”
Then he turned to Bu Eunseol and spoke with an embarrassed expression.
“I’ve ended up like this because of my lack of skill, but I sincerely hope that Bu Eunseol will pass through.”
Nam Goong Woon’s manner of speech and behavior were reckless, but he was a man of deep compassion and a burning heart.
Bu Eunseol, understanding Nam Goong Woon’s true nature, nodded lightly.
“Rest yourself.”
Then I walked slowly into the Stone Chamber.
“Young Master. Please do not overexert yourself.”
As Heuk Pyo spoke with concern, Bu Eunseol nodded.
“I understand.”
Whoosh.
At last, I entered the Stone Chamber where the Twenty-Four Celestial Beings Formation was installed.
The moment my foot crossed into the formation, unpleasant emotions surged relentlessly into my mind.
They were anger and regret long forgotten.
‘This feeling is unpleasant.’
The spiritual fortitude of Murim masters is exceptionally firm, rarely shaken by ordinary circumstances.
Yet merely stepping into the formation brought such discomfort—the formation of Shin Nyeo Gung was truly extraordinary.
Whoosh.
As I regained my composure and took another step, a sharp greatsword whistled past my cheek with a whooshing sound.
This situation resembled exactly what Nam Goong Woon had experienced upon first entering.
‘Is that how it works?’
Recalling all the circumstances Nam Goong Woon had endured, my eyes gleamed with insight.
‘A master who has mastered the Spear-Bow Flying Swallow Sword failed to properly evade the simple attacks of the Celestial Beings. Then… this cannot be mere illusion.’
The greatswords wielded by the Celestial Beings had blades exceeding two chi in width.
If such enormous greatswords were swung as rapidly as chopsticks, there should be tremendous air-rending sounds and powerful wind pressure.
Yet the air-rending sound of the incoming greatswords was merely a faint whooshing. This meant the sensations I felt were certainly influenced by the formation.
‘The Beast Path…’
As I drew upon the Beast Path’s senses, which I normally kept subtly suppressed, my pupils dilated greatly.
Crack!
Simultaneously, the ability of the Empty Breaking Heart Eye manifested, allowing me to clearly perceive the movements of the Celestial Beings standing within the Stone Chamber and the floor beneath.
‘The Celestial Beings were not attacking me.’
According to my Beast Path senses, the floor moved chaotically, but the positions of the Celestial Beings holding greatswords remained firmly fixed to the ground.
Rather, the formation’s influence caused me to lose my sense of direction and walk toward where the Celestial Beings stood.
‘I need only break through.’
Thud.
As I took another step, three greatswords came whistling down, piercing toward my body.
‘I cannot rely on sight.’
The Twenty-Four Celestial Beings Formation continuously presented subtle illusions, robbing me not only of directional sense but also of distance perception.
With her eyes completely shut, I evaded the great swords using the senses granted by the Beast Path.
Slash! Slash!
Yet shallow wounds still appeared across my body.
“So this is what a proper formation truly is.”
Until now, I had faced countless formations and shattered them with ease.
That was because humans of varying martial prowess, physiques, and temperaments had deployed those formations.
But the stone statues before me moved with perfectly synchronized motions, identical body forms, and precisely distributed strength.
Moreover, the ground itself moved at will. For the first time, I could find no flaw in the formation.
Whoosh!
As I advanced another step, six great swords now blocked my retreat and aimed at the vital points near my chest and back.
Slash! Slash!
Every time I made an evasive movement, wounds inevitably appeared on my body.
“To evade properly, I must completely unravel the formation and adjust my movements to match its shifting patterns.”
Using the Beast Path’s senses, I dodged the great swords, but the ground’s unpredictable movement made perfect evasion impossible.
“How exhilarating.”
A smile crossed my lips.
Facing an unknown adversary was a source of joy for me.
Even if I could unravel the formation, I would have pressed forward against these statues regardless.
“I should learn formation techniques later.”
I had once dismissed formations as mere parlor tricks without substance.
But the Twenty-Four Stone Statues Formation had completely shattered that prejudice.
‘To think that statues moving within a formation could employ such extraordinary techniques.’
My interest surged, and I drew upon my inner energy. Then I extended both palms and unleashed a formidable strike.
Rumble!
Then something extraordinary occurred.
As I extended my hands, the iron-forged statues’ bodies were violently pushed backward.
‘What is that?’
Namgung Sae-ah’s eyes widened as she observed the scene.
I had not deployed a palm technique—instead, I had poured forth pure inner energy to execute the Expulsion Decree.
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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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