The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 329
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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 329.
A soft rustling sound.
Dan Pa stepped forward and pressed his palms together in a respectful salute.
The Vajrayana monks of Esoteric Buddhism pursued enlightenment through ascetic practice, and unlike the Buddhism of Zhong Yuan, they did not base their teachings on compassion.
As proof of this, the monks of Potala Palace in Seo Jang were infamous for their cruel and savage methods.
However, the lamas of Guangyang Temple were quite the opposite—remarkably moderate and pursuing the Mahayana path.
Because of this, Dan Pa bowed his head with great deference and spoke.
“Then Bin Seung is regrettably forced to….”
A tremendous boom erupted.
In that instant, a violent gust of wind and a tidal wave of power crashed down upon his face.
So Ok Rim had suddenly unleashed a devastating punch.
“Ugh.”
Dan Pa had not anticipated that she would unleash such overwhelming force without any preparatory movement, so he failed to channel his Mahayana Dharma Flowing Technique in time.
A sickening crack.
With the sound of flesh tearing, Dan Pa’s face took the full brunt of the blow and he collapsed like a felled log.
A heavy thud.
As Dan Pa fell in a sprawl, the lamas rushed to catch him and hurried into the temple.
Da Gil, who had been staring blankly at the scene, spoke with an astonished expression.
“Who strikes before the match even begins?”
“He pressed his palms together. That was the signal.”
“What signal? That was a gesture of respect!”
So Ok Rim averted her gaze from Da Gil’s protest and pouted her lips like a duck.
“There’s no such thing in real combat.”
It was a low murmur, but Da Gil, whose cultivation was profound, could not have failed to hear it.
Though he was furious enough to steam, he was not in a position to interrogate this young female sect master about her conduct.
Suppressing his anger, he called out loudly.
“Dan Jeung! You step forward.”
This time, an extremely lean and tall Vajrayana monk came forward.
He was a Vajrayana monk who had mastered the Swallow Escape Technique, which shared the same principles as the Loach Technique, allowing him to move like a mudskipper.
Realizing that So Ok Rim primarily relied on fist techniques, Da Gil sent out Dan Jeung, who could effortlessly slip away from any attack.
A soft rustling sound.
Dan Jeung had witnessed Dan Pa being struck while showing courtesy, so he simply stepped forward without hesitation.
But So Ok Rim’s expression turned to shock as she looked not at him, but at something behind him.
“…!”
So Ok Rim was filled with astonishment, her eyes trembling slightly.
Dan Jeung, confused, instinctively turned to look behind himself.
A tremendous boom erupted.
In that moment, So Ok Rim’s punch came crashing down upon Dan Jeung once more.
‘Hmph, a shallow trick.’
What So Ok Rim had employed was a deception used only when children played pranks.
Dan Jeung’s Yeon Jo Do Il Gong was a technique that could effortlessly deflect external force under any circumstance.
That was why he had turned around with such confidence.
Whoooosh!
But this time, two streams of force came crashing down.
The first wave of force drew a great arc and poured down toward his back.
And just as Dan Jeung’s body naturally began to deflect the force, a second surge of power struck his lower abdomen.
“Ugh.”
A gasp identical to Dan Pa’s escaped Dan Jeung’s lips.
This was the subtle mystery of Baek Hwa Je Bang—sealing the enemy’s movement before striking the vital point.
Crack!
Dan Jeung’s eyes rolled back white as he fell to his knees, a thick groan tearing from his throat.
“Nnnngh…”
So Ok Rim’s fist contained powerful Jeon Sa Force.
Thus, Dan Jeung felt as though the organs within his abdomen were twisting and tangling in agony.
Rumble.
In the end, Dan Jeung too was carried inside with the help of several lama monks.
“Using such petty tricks!”
Da Gil roared in great fury.
“Is this the method of Zhong Yuan martial arts?”
“You shouldn’t have turned your back while fighting an opponent…”
“What?”
Hearing So Ok Rim’s muttered words, Da Gil shouted back.
“You use petty tricks and dare speak like that!”
So Ok Rim casually touched her nose and muttered again in a low voice.
“Don’t fall for such petty tricks.”
Da Gil’s face flushed crimson with rage.
So Ok Rim possessed an exceptional talent for turning people’s emotions inside out.
With mere words, she could make steam rise from the crown of a high monk who had cultivated his mind for decades.
“Fine!”
Finally, Da Gil, his composure shattered, stepped forward with his lean frame.
“Then this old monk shall personally take the stage!”
At this, the disciples around him tried desperately to stop him.
“You cannot.”
“Do not stop me.”
As Da Gil remained immovable, even Da Won, his disciple and the keeper of precepts, tried to dissuade him.
“Absolutely not.”
“It is fine. That female sect leader merely excels at deception.”
Da Gil stepped forward with confidence.
“My disciples are innocent and could not withstand her, so I must face her myself.”
“But you cannot. Your safety is the safety of our temple, is it not?”
“What if that Female Sect Lord resorts to trickery again and loses? More importantly, shouldn’t we be recovering the Guanyin statue?”
“…I understand.”
At Da Gil’s firm words, Da Won reluctantly stepped aside.
“This final round, I shall handle myself. Show me what you’re truly capable of.”
As Da Gil stepped forward, So Ok Rim’s expression grew awkward, and she smacked her lips.
“Wouldn’t it be better to send another disciple? How could I possibly throw punches at an elder?”
“Though this old monk’s body may be bent, I possess sufficient skill to evade your tricks.”
Da Gil emphasized the word “tricks” as he spoke.
At that, one of So Ok Rim’s eyebrows twitched.
“It’s not trickery—it’s strategy. If I used my full strength, wouldn’t the monks get hurt?”
“Hehehehe. When one’s foundation is shallow, one must resort to such strategies.”
“Sigh.”
So Ok Rim flexed her fists as she spoke.
“But what if something goes wrong? Won’t all the monks here pile on me?”
Though smaller in scale than Potala Palace,
Guangyang Temple housed no fewer than three thousand lamas. Should they all decide to attack together, even she could not emerge unscathed.
“Hehehehe. Don’t worry.”
Da Gil spoke with confidence.
“Even if this body is shattered to pieces, I shall never hold such a Female Sect Lord responsible.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
“Hmm.”
So Ok Rim turned away briefly to consider, then nodded.
“Very well.”
Turning back, So Ok Rim raised her right hand toward the heavens and lowered her left hand downward.
Whoooosh!
From the center of both palms, a fierce current erupted into a whirlwind, and waves of vital energy began to spiral.
Roooar!
The vortex transformed into a colossal point of radiance that seemed to devour all the air in the world.
That luminous point at its center possessed a power of annihilation—one that could obliterate all existence and reduce heaven and earth to absolute nothingness.
“That… that is…”
Witnessing that bone-chilling martial technique, Da Gil’s eyes widened in shock.
In that instant, the dying words of Cho Hyo Dae Sa—the abbot of Guangyang Temple four hundred years ago, who had been brutally defeated by the Sage Emperor and perished—flashed through his mind.
―If you ever witness a martial technique where both palms divide heaven and earth, generating an intense current of energy, you must flee immediately.
That is the Sage Emperor’s technique of annihilation—the Dual Severance of the Galaxy.
“The Sage Emperor’s… Dual Severance of the Galaxy?”
Da Gil had always wondered.
Just how devastating must a technique be to earn a name suggesting it could cleave not merely the sky, but an entire galaxy in two?
And now, at last, he would have his answer.
Roooaarrr!
As the massive burst of light poured forth, Da Gil’s vision turned white.
And in the next moment, the entire world was consumed by that whiteness.
* * *
Three shadows fled desperately from Sera Uzi Mountain, where Guangyang Temple stood, racing toward Nap Mok Rim.
They were none other than Bu Eunseol, Seo Jin Ha, and So Ok Rim.
Cradled in Bu Eunseol’s arms was a small mirror tinged with silver light.
It was the Great Mirror—Guangyang Temple’s greatest treasure.
Guangyang Temple was indeed the birthplace of the Panchen Lama, known as the Living Buddha of Seo Jang.
With Da Gil’s defeat, Guangyang Temple had honored its promise.
—This temple shall never forget this humiliation!
Yet recalling Da Won’s anguished cry as he handed over the Great Mirror, and the wide, bulging eyes of the three thousand disciples, my heart grew heavy.
Da Gil, struck by So Ok Rim’s single punch, did not die thanks to having mastered the Great Vehicle Dharma Preservation Art.
But his clothes were reduced to dust, and he lost consciousness; moreover, from the impact to his head, he began to speak nonsense.
—I’m dead! I’m truly dead!
For the abbot of Guangyang Temple to stand naked and speak gibberish before his disciples with a single punch?
Guangyang Temple had indeed suffered a humiliation that could never be washed away for generations to come.
‘She has truly mastered the Sacred Emperor’s martial arts.’
In his final moment, Da Gil had cried out: ‘The Sacred Emperor’s Dual Extremes Descent Technique?’
From this, it was clear that So Ok Rim was indeed a descendant of the Sacred Emperor.
‘And that fist technique…’
I watched So Ok Rim running close beside Seo Jin Ha.
Her fist technique not only allowed her to move her power freely like the Seven Forms of Fist Mastery, but its force was several times more powerful.
‘If I could obtain the lost latter three forms, could I stand against her?’
I shook my head.
No martial technique I knew could match So Ok Rim’s fist art.
The only way to defend against her technique was to deploy supreme martial arts like the Jade Finger Seal or the Thirteen Night Techniques.
‘She is truly formidable.’
Among all the late-stage masters I had encountered thus far, Cheon Geom possessed the most outstanding martial prowess.
Yet So Ok Rim’s martial realm was on a level where even Cheon Geom could not compare.
‘Is she my destined rival?’
I could sense it.
So Ok Rim’s martial mastery had risen to a level equal to mine, and she possessed sufficient skill to be my destined opponent.
The fated counterpart that Shin San Ja had spoken of.
Perhaps it was not a lover, but rather a destined rival that he had meant?
Tap.
At that moment, So Ok Rim, who had been leading the way, stopped her lightness technique.
“This is Gorap Mountain.”
I looked up at the mountain, which rose so high that its peak was invisible.
At last, we had arrived at Gorap Mountain, where Yunhai Biyeok Palace was said to be located.
“Now I shall take the lead.”
Bu Eunseol immediately unleashed her lightness technique.
A soft shimmer rippled through the air.
As she continued ascending, mist grew increasingly dense until visibility became nearly impossible.
The temperature plummeted sharply, and snow accumulated in patches all around her.
How far had she climbed?
At some point, the terrain flattened, and numerous branching paths came into view.
“I think we need to use it here.”
At Seo Jin Ha’s words, Bu Eunseol halted her lightness technique and withdrew the Da Won Mirror from her robes.
As she channeled her inner force into it,
A brilliant flash erupted.
It blazed with radiant light, beginning to disperse the fog.
‘This way.’
With the Gong Sim Tong Ryeong unfolded, Bu Eunseol precisely identified the path among the many branches—the one bearing traces of human passage.
After walking along the path for some time, a small fortress painted white finally came into view.
The white fortress, perched upon the high mountainside, resembled a colossal crane standing majestically against the sky.
“This is Yun Hae Byeok Ryeong Gung.”
Bu Eunseol drew a deep breath.
After a long and arduous journey, I had finally arrived at the destination where Seo Jin Ha’s inner force would be restored.
‘It was quite a grueling journey.’
Had I chosen the easier path, I would have asked the Hell Blood Castle Lord to restore Seo Jin Ha’s inner force.
After the Hell Blood Castle incident, Gong Ya Geuk had offered his formal support to me.
But I did not want Seo Jin Ha to learn any more demonic cultivation techniques.
No matter how harmless they claimed to be, demonic techniques remained demonic techniques—unlike ordinary inner force cultivation methods, they carried numerous drawbacks.
―I can cast it aside without lingering attachment.
Those were my words in response to Gyo Jung Hak, the Medicine King Hall Master, who said it was difficult to restore inner force.
From the start, if the Hell Blood Castle’s demonic technique could not be repaired, I wanted to impart a superior inner force cultivation method instead.
And I intended to restore Seo Jin Ha’s inner force without requiring an extended period of time.
The gate creaked open.
As I stood before the entrance, the closed gate opened naturally.
Then a small girl emerged, dressed in white robes like snowflowers.
She stared intently at the Da Won Mirror I held, then nodded.
“Please follow me.”
The girl’s voice emerged without her lips moving.
Bu Eunseol gave a faint nod.
‘She has opened the Upper Dantian.’
For such a young girl to have opened the Upper Dantian and freely manipulate her body’s mechanisms was extraordinary.
Just as Hyul Geum Gang had said, Yun Hae Byeok Ryeong Gung was undoubtedly the most exceptional of the heterodox sects that cultivated inner force through opening the Upper Dantian.
“Isn’t a place like this usually forbidden to outsiders? How curious.”
So Ok Rim, ever impulsive, also moved forward with an expression of amazement.
The beautiful Byeok Ryeong Gung, constructed upon the Snow Mountain at a dizzying height, evoked the image of a palace from ancient legend.
It seemed that rather than people dwelling within, the palace was inhabited by spirits sculpted from ice itself.
What was remarkable was that despite venturing into the heart of the palace, the biting cold differed little from the outside.
Within the Great Hall, a towering staircase came into view, and two elevated platforms had been installed. Behind them, a small door was visible.
This appeared to be where the Palace Lord would receive guests when outsiders entered the palace.
Bu Eunseol and So Ok Rim stood unbothered, but Seo Jin Ha, bereft of his inner strength, trembled against the piercing cold.
The moment Bu Eunseol noticed and moved to channel her inner power into him,
“It’s quite cold, isn’t it? Take my hand.”
So Ok Rim grasped Seo Jin Ha’s wrist firmly.
“No, I’m fine.”
Seo Jin Ha tried to pull his hand away, but a warm current of energy had already begun flowing into his body.
‘Her inner strength is formidable.’
To channel such overwhelming power through a single pressure point without hesitation—
Now Seo Jin Ha understood why Bu Eunseol had spoken of her strength.
‘Hmm?’
Yet So Ok Rim’s expression grew peculiar as she transmitted her inner power.
‘She said I would feel it when I held hands.’
―Is there no way to distinguish one’s destined partner besides appearance?
To So Ok Rim’s question, Shin San Ja had answered thus:
―You will know if you make physical contact with him.
So Ok Rim tilted her head in confusion.
Despite continuing to hold Seo Jin Ha’s wrist, she felt nothing.
‘Perhaps he meant more intimate physical contact?’
As she entertained this peculiar thought,
Creak.
A door behind the altar opened, and a young boy and girl emerged.
With solemn expressions, they gazed down upon Bu Eunseol and her companions before slowly ascending the platforms.
“How delightful that we have guests at our palace.”
It was the girl who spoke these words.
Both the boy and girl possessed strikingly distinct features, their eyes a striking jade blue.
Though their gaze was clear, there was none of the recklessness one might expect from their apparent age.
Instead, a composure and dignity visible only in those of high station emanated from them.
‘Return to Youth Transformation?’
When inner strength reaches its pinnacle, one achieves Return to Youth Transformation.
Yet that is merely an expression of realm.
It means reclaiming the appearance of youth, not truly becoming a child.
“I am Seol So, and I offer my respects to both of you.”
While Seo Jin Ha and So Ok Rim hesitated, Bu Eunseol stepped forward with proper courtesy, clasping her hands.
“Are both of you the Palace Lords?”
At her respectful inquiry, the seated girl let out a soft laugh.
“You truly harbor no prejudice.”
And she spoke in a gentle voice.
“No matter how much dignity you display sitting in a place like this, there’s not a single person who would regard you as the Palace Lord.”
The girl, revealing her white teeth in a slight smile, continued speaking.
“I am the Palace Lord, Hwa Mi, and this is my husband and the Former Palace Lord, A Min.”
There was no surname “A” in this world.
But Bu Eunseol clasped her hands together once more.
“I see. Seol So greets the Palace Lord and the Former Palace Lord.”
Then Seo Jin Ha, who had been standing blankly, caught on and clasped her hands together as well.
“I am Seo Jin Ha.”
“So Ok Rim…”
So Ok Rim answered reluctantly, still seeming to believe they were not true Palace Lords.
“Hmm.”
But the gazes of Palace Lord Hwa Mi and A Min remained fixed on Bu Eunseol.
She showed no great surprise at their appearance and maintained a consistently respectful demeanor, which seemed to generate a measure of favorable impression.
“Our palace does not set foot in the mundane world, so how did you find us?”
Bu Eunseol answered Palace Lord Hwa Mi’s question.
“I wish to receive teachings on the Myriad Transformation Dharma Wheel.”
“The Myriad Transformation Dharma Wheel?”
Palace Lord Hwa Mi’s expression became bewildered.
To seek out a sect unknown to the world and immediately ask for the transmission of its inner cultivation secrets—the very foundation that sustains the sect?
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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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