The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 164
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Chapter 164.
Whoosh!
In that moment, Song Ak’s sword technique shifted once more.
As unexpected moves flowed one after another, I swiftly rotated my body to evade the blade.
Song Ak then switched to the Dual Righteousness Sword, thrusting toward the vital point on my chest.
‘This man’s swordsmanship is boundlessly profound.’
If Song Ak were merely displaying simple sword techniques, altering them mid-sequence would pose no difficulty.
But to rapidly transform the moves of such intricate and mysterious sword arts as the Dual Righteousness Sword and the Tai Chi Wisdom Sword—the most wondrous techniques in Tianxia—mid-execution?
That would be nearly impossible without not only countless hours of sword cultivation, but also perfect comprehension of the sword art itself.
‘Is it a difference in the time spent refining the sword?’
I had not yet reached the stage where I could freely transform the Musang Cheonryu sword techniques at will.
Because of this, I could not respond swiftly enough to Song Ak’s constantly shifting blade patterns.
Clang clang.
In the meantime, Song Ak created dozens of circular sword auras surrounding me.
This was the ultimate technique of the Tai Chi Wisdom Sword—by drawing successive circular sword energy, it could provide perfect protection.
Flash!
In an instant, I scattered pure white cross-shaped sword energy in all directions, rapidly transforming my technique to push back the Tai Chi Wisdom Sword’s circle.
Yet no matter what sword technique I unleashed, I could not shatter those circular auras, and since they were not killing techniques, I could not block them with the Diamond Sword either.
Moreover, by the time my attack ended, those circular Tai Chi Wisdom Sword auras would transform into the sharp assault of the Dual Righteousness Sword.
‘There is only one way.’
Unable to destroy the circular sword energy that dominated the space, I deliberately exposed an opening.
Since I could not penetrate the Tai Chi Wisdom Sword’s defensive form, I would seize the moment when he transitioned to attack.
Clang clang!
At last, the Tai Chi Wisdom Sword shifted to offense.
In that instant, I drew upon my inner energy with all my might.
Whoooosh.
My inner power, having reached the fifth stage of the Inverse Extreme Heart Method, transcended the level of thirty years of cultivation.
As I unleashed my full inner strength, tangible true energy began to gather upon my dark sword.
“Hah!”
With a battle cry, I launched my attack.
But instead of the sword, I spread my left hand wide, extending not the Fist Demon Seven Techniques, but something else entirely.
Boom!
Formless energy currents dispersed in all directions as a tremendous storm of true energy crashed upon the circular sword auras.
The fourth technique of the Fist Demon Seven Techniques—the Heaven’s Destruction Shattering Palm, which destroys all things, had been unleashed.
Crash!
It should be impossible to repel sword energy with formless palm techniques.
But because I had solidified my inner energy into tangible form, I was pushing back Song Ak’s sword auras relentlessly.
“…!”
As the sword energy was driven back by the overwhelming palm force, Song Ak stopped the Tai Chi Wisdom Sword in shock.
Then Song Ak’s figure, which had been at the center of the circular sword aura, was revealed.
Crack!
Bu Eunseol seized the opening without hesitation, launching herself toward the center where Song Ak stood.
The lingering circular blade energy still tore across her shoulders, yet she pressed forward undeterred, extending her dark sword.
‘The sword techniques I’ve relied upon until now won’t suffice!’
Song Ak’s swordsmanship had reached the realm of Heaven and Earth Perfection.
If I missed this opportunity, only defeat awaited me.
Whooooom!
With a low resonant hum, the dark sword’s edge curved like taffy, shifting endlessly through countless variations.
At last—a sword form I had never attempted before.
The Seventh Form of the Formless Heaven Stream, which unleashed one hundred and eight transformations in a single strike to pierce through all enemy defenses.
The Ash Body Extinguished Mind had unfurled.
Clang!
In that instant, Song Ak’s Tai Chi blade erupted in brilliant radiance, crashing toward me with devastating force.
As a whirlwind swept dust across the ground and the two swordmasters’ ultimate techniques collided,
“….”
suddenly the entire world fell silent, and no sound could be heard.
Whissssh.
A dry wind swept through the Forest, clearing away the billowing dust.
Then, gradually, the two figures became visible.
“….”
Bu Eunseol stood motionless, her dark sword pressed against Song Ak’s throat.
And Song Ak, his body twisted with arm extended, had his blade touching my lower abdomen.
Since both their swords had simultaneously found their marks, neither could thrust.
Drip, drip.
Blood trickled from Song Ak’s neck where the sharp blade had grazed him.
“Your inner energy is formidable indeed.”
Both had extended their swords simultaneously, yet Song Ak’s blade had missed my skin by the thickness of a single sheet of paper.
The overwhelming qi within the Ash Body Extinguished Mind had pushed his sword back ever so slightly.
“Since inner energy is but one facet of martial arts, this must be deemed a victory for the Righteous Path.”
Despite Song Ak’s words, my expression remained grim.
‘I still have far to go.’
The Ash Body Extinguished Mind was a technique I had created based on Dan Cheong’s swordsmanship, which unleashed one hundred and eight transformations in a single strike.
Had I executed the technique flawlessly, Song Ak’s head would have already been severed.
But the transformations I had managed were only eighty-one.
Click. Snap.
As if by agreement, both withdrew their swords simultaneously.
The two swordmasters’ skills were evenly matched—only their inner energy cultivation differed in depth.
Song Ak’s expression turned bitter.
“Among the younger generation, I thought only Gwang Yeon could be my equal… so there was another hidden dragon lurking about.”
“Gwang Yeon?”
“A master from Shaolin. Due to his low rank in the sect hierarchy, he remains a sweeping monk, but his martial prowess can be said to be among Shaolin’s finest talents.”
Having finished speaking, he gazed intently at Bu Eunseol and continued.
“Today, I acknowledge my defeat. But next time will be different.”
As Bu Eunseol nodded, Song Ak cleared his throat and spoke.
“In that case, let us share a drink before our next match. How does that sound?”
A smile as radiant as sunlight played across his lips.
Bu Eunseol, who had been watching Song Ak intently, exhaled a soft sigh and nodded.
“Very well.”
“You’ve given me your word.”
Song Ak, grinning with teeth bared, unfurled his movement technique and vanished into the sky above.
Bu Eunseol, who had been silently observing his departure, suddenly spat out a blood clot the size of a pebble with a sharp sound.
“Hmm.”
My eyes wavered like rippling water.
The Limitless Heavenly Stream, composed of six forms in the first half and four forms in the second half, was a sword technique that synthesized all the sword arts of Nangya Pavilion.
Especially the four forms of the second half, created based on Dan Cheong’s teachings, were sword techniques that could only truly be executed upon reaching the Extreme Heaven Realm.
“Indeed, Wudang is worthy of standing shoulder to shoulder with Shaolin.”
Recalling Song Ak’s swordsmanship, I shook my head.
If I had not reached the seventh level of the Eternal Heart Technique?
It would have been impossible to forcibly deploy the Returning Spirit Extinguishing Consciousness, and my lower abdomen would have been pierced by Song Ak’s blade.
“This internal injury will not heal easily.”
Though I had always recovered from internal injuries with ease before, this time was different.
Not from external impact, but from forcibly deploying the sword technique, causing my vital energy to reverse flow—I had sustained a deep internal injury that could not be easily recovered from.
It would take roughly four days to reach the Demon Palace.
But there was no guarantee that enemies would not come within that time.
“It matters not.”
I do not yield to any trial.
Like a human forged from steel, feeling no pain whatsoever, I moved forward with steady steps.
* * *
The dark sky was gradually brightening.
Having pressed forward relentlessly, I entered Seong Do, where the Demon Palace stood.
Half a day more of walking and I would arrive at the Demon Palace.
Around the village, merchants who had gathered from all directions were spreading their stalls across the streets as if it were market day.
Moving with heavy steps, I suddenly came to a halt.
Abruptly, the world fell silent, and the merchants and people at the crossroads began to part and retreat as if the waters were dividing.
Soon, only overturned stalls and vegetables and fruits rolling in the desolate wind remained on the street.
But I moved forward as if seeing nothing.
And at the point where the crossroads ended, roughly three hundred martial artists stood arrayed like soldiers.
“They’ve all gathered.”
The martial artists blocking Gwan Do entirely were masters from the Hell Blood Sect and the White Horse Sect.
Yet I regarded them with an unmoved expression.
At the forefront of that procession stood three familiar martial artists. They were Ok Ki Ryung, Eum Wi, and Jin Ja Myeong.
“Bu Eunseol. You will never enter the Demon Palace!”
At Jin Ja Myeong’s cry, Bu Eunseol smiled faintly.
“We shall see.”
My internal injuries had not yet healed. Moreover, after three days and nights of ceaseless walking, my stamina was utterly depleted.
Yet I straightened my shoulders with confidence and walked forward.
“Let us try then.”
My gait was as majestic as a lion’s, heavier than Mount Tai itself.
One step, two steps….
With each stride I took, the eyes of the White Horse Sect and Hell Blood Sect warriors blazed with killing intent.
One against three hundred.
An impossible battle that could never be won from the start. And just as that battle’s prelude was about to begin,
“Who dares obstruct the path of the Root Sect’s successor!”
A thunderous cry echoed across the heavens. Simultaneously, twenty masters descended from the sky to the ground behind Bu Eunseol, one after another.
Boom.
The first to descend was a man bearing a massive greatsword on his back.
Behind him, warriors wielding various weapons stood arrayed in perfect formation.
Though their expressions were leisurely as if they had merely come for an outing, an aura as immense as Mount Tai flowed from their entire beings.
“Master?”
Bu Eunseol’s eyes widened.
They were none other than the Changsin Squad of Nangya Sect.
“Young one, have you been well?”
“Master. How did you….”
“Well done.”
So Jeon placed a hand on Bu Eunseol’s shoulder and spoke.
“As a disciple of Nangya Sect, you have shown not a shred of shame.”
As Bu Eunseol lowered his head, Je Woon, the vice-commander standing behind So Jeon, chuckled.
“Bu Eunseol. You looked quite resolute there. Impressive.”
Then the members behind him also laughed heartily and spoke one by one.
“Isn’t this the one we’ve raised from the beginning? Of course he should do this much!”
“When all is finished, come to the Changsin Squad. Bu Eunseol!”
“Don’t talk nonsense. Why would the next Nangya Pavilion Master come to the Changsin Squad?”
Bu Eunseol, bearing wounds yet walking without hesitation toward three hundred warriors.
The Changsin Squad members watching that figure felt a profound sense of pride, and their morale soared to the heavens.
“So Jeon…!”
Jin Ja Myeong, recognizing the Changsin Squad Master, gasped.
He was an unparalleled warrior of overwhelming martial prowess within Nangya Sect.
Moreover, his subordinates were monsters capable of annihilating entire sects with merely a handful of men, were they not?
Step by step backward.
The warriors of Hell Blood Sect and White Horse Sect, including Jin Ja Myeong, retreated.
No matter how fierce and valiant these warriors were, they could not stand against the Changsin Squad, which could sweep through an entire sect in its entirety.
“Clear the way!”
At So Jeon’s sharp command, the masters of Hell Blood Castle and White Horse Sect who blocked the path hesitated.
If they did not yield, they would have to clash with the Changsin Squad on this very road.
Of course, death held no terror for them… but the outcome was far too obvious, which gave them pause.
Jin Ja Myeong, Eum Wi, and Ok Ki Ryung exchanged glances while beads of sweat rolled down their faces.
And they nodded, as if accepting the inevitable.
Whoosh.
Then three hundred warriors split into two lines, and the path opened before them.
“Hmph. So these are the Ten Demonic Gates, relying on nothing but numbers.”
They could not utter a single word in response to So Jeon’s scorn.
Even with ten mouths, they would have nothing to say.
They had united three divisions of White Horse Sect and Hell Blood Castle to encircle and kill a single young disciple of Nangya Pavilion…
“Go well and return safely.”
As So Jeon patted my back, I clasped my hands together and bowed deeply.
“Then I shall take my leave.”
Once more, I moved forward.
One step, two steps… and finally I stood before the masters of Hell Blood Castle and White Horse Sect.
Then I paused for a moment and surveyed the warriors arrayed before me.
The bearing I displayed was not that of an enemy, but rather of one confidently surveying subordinates under my command.
“…!”
The warriors who met my gaze unconsciously straightened their spines.
An absolute master.
From this young figure emanated the presence of an absolute master who held all of Tianxia beneath their feet.
Creak.
As I finally reached the end of the path, the massive gates of Demon Palace, which had been firmly shut, slowly began to open.
At the entrance of Demon Palace, warriors clad in black martial robes stood in two endless rows with swords held high.
A successor candidate of Ma Cheon Je, who would come to rule Demon Palace in the future… and
This was to pay respects to Bu Eunseol, who had arrived at Demon Palace after enduring countless trials.
Swift.
As I walked forward with confidence,
Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang…
Each time I passed, the warriors of Demon Palace lowered their swords and paid their respects once more.
The rows of warriors extended all the way to the innermost depths of Demon Palace.
At the end of that path, a colossal palace hall awaited me, displaying a grandeur that seemed to press down upon the very earth.
‘This must be the Holy Demon Pavilion…’
At last, I had arrived before the Holy Demon Pavilion, where Ma Cheon Je was said to reside.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————