The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 20

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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 20.
A sharp whistle cut through the air.
Hesitation flickered in the eyes of the White Horse Sect Youths wielding their whips.
Judging by the footsteps, at least a dozen figures were approaching from that direction.
If they continued fighting Bu Eunseol here, they too risked becoming prey for that incoming group.
A crisp sound of air splitting, followed by the scrape of feet against earth.
The sharp whistle of cutting wind and the rhythmic stomp of footsteps drew steadily closer.
“You’re fortunate, wench!”
The White Horse Sect Youths, as if flicking away beads from an abacus, hastily dissolved their formation.
“Fall back!”
With a sharp cry, the youths gripping their whips unleashed a gale-like lightness of step, vanishing into the forest.
A soft rustle.
Bu Eunseol retrieved the iron sword that had fallen to the ground, watching with calm indifference as the White Horse Sect Youths disappeared.
“They haven’t truly mastered the White Horse Whip technique.”
Trapped within the Jade Serpent Golden Formation, I had deliberately refrained from counterattacking, merely evading their assault.
I had been meticulously observing the White Horse Sect’s whip method—the legendary technique of the martial world—to identify its weaknesses.
“Perhaps I should have simply killed them.”
When struck by the White Horse Whip, it didn’t merely tear flesh—it shattered muscle as well.
A few direct hits would render one immobilized, but having mastered the Beast Sense Technique, I had predicted every movement and avoided fatal wounds.
“No matter. Another opportunity will present itself soon enough.”
I could say this with certainty.
Those who had judged me an easy target would surely pursue me again.
In a slaughter trial, survival meant avoiding the strong and hunting the weak.
A faint sound of movement.
The sound of lightness of step that had been distant suddenly drew near.
‘There’s no need to overextend myself.’
Having endured within the Jade Serpent Golden Formation without launching a single counterattack, my stamina had been significantly depleted.
With so many still remaining, there was no reason to engage in a bloody clash with multiple groups.
A sharp movement.
As I hurled myself into the darkened undergrowth,
Rapid footsteps and cutting wind sounds.
A dozen figures swiftly unleashed their lightness of step, passing through the very brush where I had been moments before.
…
Once the group had departed, I rose to my feet, suddenly struck by a violent hunger.
It had been three days since the trial began.
All I had consumed was clear water. The trial would not end within a day or two, so I had to find food.
‘I must go there.’
A specific location came to mind, and I quickened my pace.
Thump, thump.
Even as I moved, I occasionally paused to strike stones or press my ear to the ground.
Running blindly to evade the Killing Ghosts, I couldn’t afford to be caught off guard. That’s why I expanded my Beast Sense Technique’s perception range to monitor my surroundings.
Whiiiing.
A cool breeze swept past my ears.
Upon emerging from the Forest, I arrived at the Martial Hall of the Hwawoo Sword Sect.
Creeeeak.
As I opened the door, I saw the vast Martial Hall divided into three sections, the Training Grounds, and the Cultivation Chambers.
After surveying the empty Martial Hall, I unhesitatingly stepped into the grand pavilion.
Passing beneath the nameplate, a long corridor came into view. Venturing deeper inside, I found rows of densely packed chambers.
This was the personal Cultivation Chamber where trainees of the Hwawoo Sword Sect could practice martial arts in solitude.
Clang.
I forcefully opened the iron door of the Cultivation Chamber situated in the most remote corner.
Then I shoved the table aside and pried up one of the wooden floorboards.
Inside, dried meat filled the space completely.
Whoosh.
I retrieved a piece of dried meat and began chewing it slowly.
I had surveyed the terrain across Hell Island and occasionally hunted small beasts to prepare this jerky.
Munch, munch.
The dried meat was utterly bland, but it sufficed to satisfy my hunger.
I chewed the meat with the reverent composure of a sage reciting scripture.
After eating my fill, I leaned against the Cultivation Chamber wall and closed my eyes.
How much time had passed?
Exhale.
My mind cleared, and as vitality surged back into my stiffened body, I slowly opened my eyes.
Though I had lost considerable blood, those were merely flesh wounds. A brief rest had completely restored my stamina.
‘The sun must have risen by now.’
Rising slowly, I stuffed a few pieces of jerky into my garments.
Then I walked out of the Cultivation Chamber once more.
Looking up, the distant sky began to brighten clearly.
Though life-giving radiance poured down upon the earth, only a murderous atmosphere lingered across Hell Island.
“The end of this slaughter… is still far away.”
There was no guarantee that the Ten Demon Experts were exactly ten.
Moreover, Sect Leader Hyuk Ryeon Eung hadn’t even specified how many should remain before the killing stopped.
It could be until one remained, or until five remained.
Thud-thud.
At that moment, vibrations from the earth swept past my ears.
Four figures. Judging by the consistent distance between them as they ran, they clearly belonged to the same group.
“Those bastards.”
I lifted the corners of my mouth slightly.
From their footsteps alone, I could discern that they were practitioners of lightness martial arts—undoubtedly Baek Ma Sa’s gang.
Whoosh.
He unconsciously reached back and fingered the hilt of the black sword strapped across his shoulders.
This black blade was not only remarkably light, but it served admirably as a backup weapon.
And now Bu Eunseol sought to acquire yet another weapon.
* * *
From the Stone Mountain Peak, one could gaze down upon Hell Island in its entirety.
There stood a muscular elderly man with a grave expression and a middle-aged scholar in scholarly robes, side by side.
It was Hyuk Ryeon Eung, the Grand Sect Master, and Baek Jeon Cheon, the Lord of Man Bak Dang.
“What is the situation?”
In response to Hyuk Ryeon Eung’s inquiry, Baek Jeon Cheon unfolded a parchment depicting the terrain of Hell Island and spoke respectfully.
“Of the eighty-six trainees, forty-one remain alive.”
“Forty-one, even after four days have passed….”
“Given that the finest talents have gathered, it appears they anticipated such circumstances. Few engage in fierce combat; most operate in groups or establish strongholds.”
Hyuk Ryeon Eung nodded with an unhurried expression.
“I see.”
“In truth, I confess I cannot fathom it….”
Baek Jeon Cheon’s gaze deepened as he looked down upon Hell Island.
“Had we restricted the territory to the vicinity of Stone Mountain from the very beginning, matters would have been resolved swiftly without prolonging the affair.”
“You mean to ask why we do not gather them all at once for battle, but instead gradually expand the restricted zone and draw out the time?”
“Precisely.”
Hyuk Ryeon Eung turned his gaze and, rather than answering, gazed down upon the landscape of Hell Island.
Though it appeared peaceful at first glance, slaughter and killing unfolded in scattered places.
As I drew a deep breath, the wind that blew carried the scent of blood.
“If we did so, we would see results like those of the Second Hall once more—a trainee who has scarcely mastered martial arts surviving, for instance.”
“Bu Eunseol… are you referring to that child?”
“Yes. Thanks to that one, I came to understand that chaotic battles in confined spaces make it difficult to properly assess true ability.”
Hyuk Ryeon Eung exhaled softly through his nose, his eyes narrowing as he spoke.
“It is the conclusion reached after lengthy deliberation with the elders and the leadership of the Ten Demonic Gates.”
Recalling that time, Hyuk Ryeon Eung spoke coldly with a displeased expression.
“Rather than indiscriminately culling, we decided that even if it takes time, we should allow them to display all their abilities—martial prowess, wisdom, leadership, adaptability, and resourcefulness.”
“So such a matter occurred.”
Baek Jeon Cheon nodded.
Though he was the Lord of Man Bak Dang, he dared not attend the conference regarding the Ten Demon Experts competition.
Only the Demon Hall Master, the elders, the leadership of the Ten Demon Experts, and finally the Grand Sect Master Hyuk Ryeon Eung were permitted to attend.
“Now that only the truly worthy remain, I should instruct them to gradually reveal their strength.”
Hyuk Ryeon Eung pointed to a location on the parchment held in Baek Jeon Cheon’s hand.
“First, restrict access to this area as well.”
The location Hyuk Ryeon Eung indicated was the vicinity where the Martial Hall of the Hwawoo Sword Sect stood.
* * *
Bu Eunseol’s eyes gleamed with unusual brilliance as she returned to the Hwawoo Sword Sect.
Though I had not learned concealment arts or movement techniques, mastering the Beast Path had made me adept at concealing my presence.
Moving silently, he crept toward the Cultivation Chamber like a predator that had caught the scent of prey.
I had left a trail for them to follow.
Bu Eunseol had deliberately marked her path with drops of blood to make it easier for the White Horse Sect Youths to pursue her.
As expected, they had tracked those breadcrumbs all the way to the Hwawoo Sword Sect.
“The bastard went this way.”
Following the blood trails scattered across the ground, the youths finally entered the corridor leading to the Cultivation Chamber.
In that instant, Bu Eunseol emerged slowly from behind them.
There was only one exit from the Cultivation Chamber to the outside.
By blocking the passage out, the four youths had become rats trapped in a jar.
“Insane.”
Yet the youths merely scoffed at the sight of Bu Eunseol.
“Did you really think you’d win by luring us into this narrow corridor?”
A sharp whistle cut through the air.
Summoning their White Horse Whips—each three zhang in length—they smiled with unbridled confidence.
“Today you die!”
There was no need for further words. Only blood and flesh remained to be divided in this contest.
“Take this!”
With a thunderous cry, the four youths surrounded Bu Eunseol and lashed out with their White Horse Whips.
A sharp crack split the air!
The four strands of White Horse Whips expanded and contracted with each sweep through the void.
What made the White Horse Sect’s whip technique so fearsome was its ability to extend and retract at will, unleashing techniques so fluid and unpredictable that even the wielders themselves could not always anticipate them.
A sharp sting! A resounding impact!
Like living serpents, the White Horse Whips writhed freely through the air, targeting Bu Eunseol’s vital points.
“What?”
Yet Bu Eunseol did not move from her position.
Or rather, though she appeared motionless, she evaded every technique with perfect precision.
Beast Sense Technique.
This wondrous martial art was being deployed without reservation.
A soft rustling sound.
By a hair’s breadth, Bu Eunseol evaded the White Horse Whip, and finally, her blade was drawn.
“Ahhhhh!”
A fountain of blood erupted from the throat of the youth wielding the whip, accompanied by a piercing scream.
“What kind of sword technique is this?”
Bu Eunseol had unleashed the second form of the Hwawoo Lightning Sword—Ascension and Descent.
But when combined with the Beast Sense Technique and killing intent, it transformed into a sharp and brutal blade form.
A brilliant flash!
With radiant brilliance, Bu Eunseol’s iron sword created another bloom of blood.
“Ugh!”
Once again, a scream tore through the air.
She had pierced the elbow joint of the youth who had been matching the speed of the White Horse Whip.
That joint was the only one not protected by the White Horse Sect’s binding technique.
Slash!
As the swift blade followed the linked chain sword technique, the black sword that had pierced the elbow now carved across the boy’s carotid artery.
Spurt!
As another fountain of blood erupted,
“Damn it!”
The two enraged youths shortened their White Horse Sect bindings even further, pressing down on Bu Eunseol.
However, without the use of the Wall Wheel Golden Thread Formation, the power of the White Horse Sect binding had diminished considerably from before.
Their individual skills were simply not that impressive.
“Ugh!”
Another scream pierced the air, and one of the youths wielding the White Horse Sect binding collapsed.
No matter how frantically and swiftly they swung the binding, they could never land a blow on Bu Eunseol, who predicted every angle and trajectory of their techniques.
―This woman deliberately lured us here!
Only then did the youths realize it.
It wasn’t they who had cornered Bu Eunseol in this place—it was Bu Eunseol who had drawn them here.
She had merely observed their techniques while concealing her true strength.
“Get out of the way!”
They swung the White Horse Sect binding frantically, but couldn’t even touch a single hair on Bu Eunseol, who blocked the exit.
Whistle!
Then suddenly, with a strange sound, something rapidly burrowed into Bu Eunseol’s flank.
Whoosh.
Bu Eunseol quickly spun her body through the air.
What swept past near her shoulder was a White Horse Sect binding stained white with blood.
Whistle!
In that instant, the binding that had passed by her body suddenly changed direction and lashed across her back.
Clang!
She blocked it with an iron sword drawn while spinning, but suspended in midair, her body was sent flying all the way to the end of the corridor.
“Now’s our chance!”
In that moment, the two youths who had been trapped in the corridor quickly bolted toward the exit.
“Hmm.”
Then a massive shadow suddenly burst forth, blocking their path.
“What are you two doing right now?”
The shadow was a large youth with White Horse Sect bindings wrapped around his waist and arms.

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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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