The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 34

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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 34.
At the western edge of Nangya Sect lay Yeong Gyo Lake, an artificial reservoir carved from the land itself.
Pap pap pap pap.
Bu Eunseol bounded across the vast surface of Yeong Gyo Lake.
Though it appeared she sprinted freely across the water, in truth she was ceaselessly stepping upon wooden fragments floating upon the surface.
Thud.
Having crossed the lake in a single breath using branches as her path, Bu Eunseol found her way blocked by a towering cliff face that pierced the heavens—Sa Ja Rock.
Whoosh. Thud.
Bu Eunseol’s body repeatedly launched skyward and fell.
With each breath drawn, she leaped; with each landing, her toes struck the minute protrusions of the cliff face with perfect precision.
Not as lofty as the highest techniques, yet nimble and fluid—appearing as though executing a suspended step, yet capable of lateral movement.
Bu Eunseol’s form ascended the cliff face like a coiled spring, moving with perfect freedom.
Whoosh.
At last reaching the cliff’s edge, four streaks of flying blades tore toward Bu Eunseol’s body with a piercing sound.
Pap pap.
Yet Bu Eunseol’s form was no longer there—the blades embedded themselves in a tree stump instead.
Whistle whistle whistle.
This time, eight flying blades erupted from all directions, cutting off her escape route.
With no space left to evade, Bu Eunseol launched herself into the air.
Pap pap pap.
Her body blurred, and the eight blades passed through empty space once more.
Having shifted direction dozens of times mid-air, it merely appeared as though the blades had passed through her.
Thud.
Bu Eunseol landed with a light, graceful movement,
“Impressive.”
A small shadow emerged from behind a boulder, fingers gripping flying blades. It was Go Wol.
“At this rate, you’ve entered the initial stage of the Supreme Speed Shadowless technique.”
Bu Eunseol’s lower garments were torn sharply in several places.
These were wounds created from executing the Supreme Speed Shadowless technique just moments before.
“The Supreme Speed Shadowless technique requires deploying both body technique and footwork simultaneously while shifting direction at extreme velocity. Even the slightest mistake can shatter your leg bones.”
Go Wol regarded Bu Eunseol with eyes of admiration.
“Remarkable. In merely a month of studying body technique, you can shift through thirty-six directional changes.”
“It is all thanks to your guidance, Master.”
Bu Eunseol bowed her head respectfully.
In truth, the Supreme Speed Shadowless technique was far more intricate and arcane than calculating celestial positions.
Moreover, deploying both body technique and footwork simultaneously was nearly impossible.
Yet Bu Eunseol had cultivated the technique with unwavering dedication, finally achieving mastery approaching the third stage.
“Do not grow complacent.”
Having poured all his spiritual energy for a month, Go Wol’s hair had turned white. Yet his eyes blazed with fierce intensity.
“Learning and mastery are different. Until you can execute it flawlessly in any moment, you must continue practicing the Supreme Speed Shadowless technique, traveling between this lake and cliff face.”
“I understand.”
“Then that will do.”
As Go Wol turned, the faintest smile played at the corners of his lips.
“I wish for your future to be filled with good fortune.”
Bu Eunseol’s expression grew puzzled.
Go Wol’s words carried the weight of a farewell—as though hinting at a long separation ahead.
“Master, I have only just reached the level where I can barely deploy the Extreme Speed Shadowless Technique.”
“If you can deploy it, then that is enough. There is nothing more for this old man to teach you.”
“I do not understand your meaning, Master.”
Go Wol turned his head and spoke in a measured tone.
“The difficulty in mastering the Extreme Speed Shadowless Technique lies in the extreme hardship of executing the doctrine of ‘Footless Placement’—simultaneously deploying both divine footwork and movement technique.”
Footless Placement.
Literally, it meant having no ground upon which to stand. Yet within the doctrine of the Extreme Speed Shadowless Technique, it referred to the secret of deploying both divine footwork and movement technique while suspended in mid-air.
“To perfect this secret of Footless Placement, there are four essential conditions that must be met.”
Go Wol regarded Bu Eunseol with eyes full of admiration.
“First, perseverance and endurance more stubborn than a camel. Second, inner energy so vast that you can sustain half a watch’s duration on a single breath. Third, the wisdom to comprehend complex movement techniques.”
He paused briefly before asking Bu Eunseol.
“Do you know what the final condition is?”
Bu Eunseol, lost in thought, shook his head.
“I am not certain.”
“Hehehehe. It is the courage to overcome the fear and terror of having one’s legs severed, and to deploy both divine footwork and movement technique at high speed.”
Go Wol gazed at Bu Eunseol with eyes that seemed to hold a multitude of conflicting emotions.
“This is precisely why countless disciples of the Nangya Sect have failed to master the Extreme Speed Shadowless Technique. There are none willing to accept becoming crippled merely to learn divine footwork and movement technique.”
Go Wol spoke with an expression of genuine admiration.
“To be honest, I have never encountered anyone with such audacity at your age.”
“You mean… me?”
“Indeed. Elderly men who have tasted both bitterness and sweetness hold little attachment to life, but at your age, to regard one’s own life as insignificant—that is a rare thing.”
Bu Eunseol’s expression became enigmatic.
I was not fearless, nor was I naturally possessed of such audacity.
I simply desired to obtain martial prowess superior enough to deal with the beast that had slain my grandfather.
“I wish to know the secret that grants one superhuman audacity and confidence at your age.”
At Go Wol’s question, Bu Eunseol lowered his head.
“I possess no superhuman audacity, Master.”
After a long moment, I raised my head again, and flames seemed to flicker in my eyes.
“I simply had no choice.”
―I simply had no choice.
A fierce current of energy seemed to pour forth from behind Bu Eunseol’s back.
Simultaneously, Go Wol felt the illusion that the entire expanse of Cheongmyeong Platform was being filled with a vast and terrifying killing intent.
‘What in the world is this creature….’
Only then did Go Wol truly understand.
Within Bu Eunseol’s chest lay an innate killing intent as devastating as thunder and lightning—a force capable of tearing the heavens asunder and overturning the earth itself.
“I see.”
Go Wol, having grasped Bu Eunseol’s circumstances, exhaled a heavy breath.
“Extreme Speed Shadowless is no mere movement technique. Through countless trials in real combat, it will evolve infinitely according to the enlightenment you attain.”
Go Wol spoke in a subdued voice, his gaze fixed upon Bu Eunseol’s eyes, which gleamed with brilliant light.
“I have maintained this tea tower for a long time, waiting for one with the aptitude to master Extreme Speed Shadowless. And at last, that wish has been fulfilled….”
He spoke again, a serene smile gracing his lips.
“Now I shall close the tea tower.”
“Thank you, Elder.”
As Bu Eunseol bowed her head, Go Wol nodded lightly and entered the tea tower.
Boom.
And the doors of Cheongmyeong Tea Tower sealed shut.
He had opened the tea tower precisely because he awaited one with the aptitude to learn Extreme Speed Shadowless.
Now that his long-cherished wish had been fulfilled, his Cheongmyeong Tea Tower closed its doors with satisfaction.
* * *
Whoosh. Tap.
Ten shadows approached Nangya Sect.
Moving across the steep mountain paths as though they were level ground, the shadows formed a triangular formation as they cut through the air.
The ten shadows, moving at a speed like rays of light, suddenly soared skyward the moment the main gate of Nangya Sect came into view.
Burst.
The ten shadows that shot into the air scattered in all directions like fireworks exploding.
“Those Fengyun Corps ruffians.”
The members of Nangya Sect, watching the covert shadows spread across the night sky, clicked their tongues.
“They could simply enter through the main gate. Just like spies—they always have to be so theatrical….”
Fengyun Corps.
The intelligence vanguard of Nangya Sect, roaming the martial world to gather information.
They periodically departed from Nangya Sect to traverse the jianghu, and there were rumors that whenever they returned, seismic shifts occurred throughout the martial realm.
Whoosh.
One of the shadows shot forth by covert movement technique came to rest upon the roof of a pavilion overlooking Nangya Sect.
Swish.
The shadow, illuminated by moonlight, removed the mask that had concealed his face.
Slowly, the visage of a middle-aged man with deep, dark features and a prominent nose came into view.
“Now that you’ve returned, you should come directly to Geonkun Hall. Why linger here so pathetically, Baek Yeon?”
At that moment, a clear voice rang out as a figure in white descended upon the pavilion roof like a drifting cloud.
It was a man with a robust frame, handsome features, yet eyes that carried an inexplicably languid gleam.
He was none other than Dan Cheong, the Vice-Master of Nangya Sect.
“Or perhaps you intend to drink again, using the night sky as your companion, just as you did before?”
Dan Cheong approached the man with a grin and spoke.
“If it were revealed that the Master of Fengyun Corps, who oversees information throughout the realm, possesses such refined features, surely the martial world would be thrown into chaos.”
The masked middle-aged man was indeed Baek Yeon, the Master of Fengyun Corps who oversaw Nangya Sect’s intelligence operations.
“Deputy Sect Leader.”
Baek Yeon, the commander of the Fengyun Corps, kept his hands clasped together, his eyes like starlight fixed firmly upon the ground.
Then Dan Cheong spoke as though displeased.
“Didn’t you say we could speak freely when it’s just the two of us?”
“The discipline of our sect is already loose enough without becoming completely undone. If we make exceptions one after another like this, the order of our sect will fall into chaos.”
At Baek Yeon’s rigid response, Dan Cheong smacked his lips.
The two had shared a deep friendship since childhood.
Yet the rigid Baek Yeon maintained a respectful and solemn demeanor in both private and public settings.
“I was planning to seek you out anyway, so this works out well.”
“Me? For what reason?”
As Dan Cheong blinked, a cold glint flashed across Baek Yeon’s eyes.
“The Ten Demon Experts….”
“Hmm?”
“I heard that the Deputy Sect Leader brought back one of the Ten Demon Experts with the finest aptitude from Hell Island.”
Dan Cheong, who had been standing dazed, burst into laughter.
“That you already know of something only the leadership of the Ten Demonic Gates and Demon Hall are aware of—how surprising.”
“The Deputy Sect Leader never opposed the Ten Demon Experts plan from the start.”
Baek Yeon gazed at Dan Cheong with penetrating eyes.
“So why did you bring someone destined for the Hwawoo Sword Sect to our sect?”
“Ah, so that’s what this is about.”
Dan Cheong scratched his ear and smacked his lips before speaking.
“That one wasn’t brought by me.”
“If they weren’t brought….”
“That one chose our sect. They flatly rejected the Hwawoo Sword Sect’s offer to take them.”
“That prodigy… chose our sect?”
“Indeed.”
Dan Cheong touched his neck as though recalling that time.
“Thanks to that, I nearly came to blows with that mad sword demon.”
Baek Yeon could not hide his exasperation as he spoke.
“Why did you accept such an exceptional circumstance? It wouldn’t have mattered if you brought anyone else.”
“Well, it was impressive. Someone willing to walk into our sect of their own volition.”
As Dan Cheong shrugged, Baek Yeon furrowed his brow.
“Because of that matter, the Hwawoo Sword Sect ultimately did not select the Ten Demon Experts. The Sect Leader of Hwawoo also expressed regret.”
“So something like that happened.”
Dan Cheong answered indifferently, and Baek Yeon released a deep sigh.
“The martial artists of the realm call our sect a fallen gate. But you’ve forgotten that in reality, we’ve been under the Demon Hall’s restraint for a long time.”
“Baek Yeon.”
Dan Cheong exhaled a breath of resignation and shook his head.
“Haven’t you been leading the Fengyun Corps for far too long?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“You’ve drunk far too deeply from the rivers of the martial world, haven’t you?”
Dan Cheong’s eyes, gazing down at Nangya Sect from the rooftop, grew profound and distant.
“Nangya Sect is simply Nangya Sect. What we aspire toward is the pinnacle of martial mastery, not dominion over the martial world.”
“Sect Leader. Such ideals are merely aspirations. Do you truly believe Nangya Sect can be led by hopeful ambitions alone?”
“A moment ago you spoke of discipline, and yet here you are—a vice leader no less—speaking with such severity.”
As Dan Cheong cast his jest, Baek Yeon clenched his fists, as though restraining his emotions.
“The martial world now stands like a time bomb ready to detonate at any moment. With such complacent thinking, even our sect could fall into peril.”
“I understand. I do.”
Dan Cheong waved his hand dismissively, as if resigned.
He knew well that Baek Yeon spoke with such conviction because he harbored a devotion to Nangya Sect deeper than anyone else’s.
“Since you’ve returned after so long, why not set aside your worries and enjoy yourself?”
Dan Cheong swept his hand through the air as though clearing away the heavy atmosphere.
“I’ve prepared a feast at Cheongyun Pavilion. Let us drink together until our noses turn red.”
“I shall defer the drinking for another time.”
“Why is that?”
“There is an urgent matter I must attend to.”
“What matter?”
Baek Yeon fixed Dan Cheong with an expression of utmost gravity.
“Where is the one who has become a true expert of our 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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