The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 401

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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 401.
Silence hung heavy around the Combat Stage.
Cheon Hwa In was the foremost disciple of the Hua Shan Sect and possessed martial talent exceptional enough to be counted among the greatest masters.
Having entered the Transcendent Realm and mastered the diverse ascending techniques taught by the Murim Alliance, there was no one here foolish enough to challenge him.
“Brother Tae, would you come up?”
Cheon Hwa In’s gaze remained fixed on Tae Mu Ryong.
It seemed he still harbored resentment over the humiliation he had suffered at the Banquet Hall previously.
“Very well.”
Tae Mu Ryong climbed onto the Combat Stage without hesitation.
Defeat was already something he had steeled himself for. He merely wished to conduct himself with dignity even in loss.
“Then, let us begin.”
At Yuk Cheong Ah’s call, Tae Mu Ryong drew the Pardu from his waist.
But Cheon Hwa In, hands clasped behind his back, spoke with leisurely composure.
“You may strike first.”
“Young Master Cheon, please draw your blade as well.”
At Tae Mu Ryong’s words, Cheon Hwa In’s lips curved upward as he shook his head.
“Should I draw my blade, you would not even manage a single technique.”
Tae Mu Ryong bit his lip.
Cheon Hwa In’s attitude was arrogant, yet it was no mere boast.
The razor-sharp aura emanating from his body had already brought blood rising to Tae Mu Ryong’s throat.
“So be it.”
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Tae Mu Ryong began spinning the Pardu with dazzling complexity.
Ordinary Pardus possess five or six teeth, but the Sacheon Sect’s Pardu bore ten razor-sharp teeth.
Each tooth discharged its own piercing force, unleashing a barrage of consecutive attacks.
“Hah!”
With a shout, Tae Mu Ryong extended the Three Pools Four Directions technique.
One could not immediately unleash sharp techniques against an opponent who had not even drawn a weapon.
First, he deployed the threatening Three Pools Four Directions, then intended to follow with the supreme techniques of Thousand Methods Hundred Schemes, unleashing a relentless barrage.
“Hmph.”
Yet Cheon Hwa In, with a brief scoff, closed the distance to Tae Mu Ryong’s face in an instant.
‘What?’
Tae Mu Ryong was greatly shocked to realize Cheon Hwa In had pierced through the spinning shadows of the Pardu and closed the gap in a single breath.
Simultaneously, brilliant white light poured forth from Cheon Hwa In’s palms.
It was not a technique of the Hua Shan Sect, but rather the Blazing Truth Luminous Palm that the Murim Alliance had transmitted to him.
Boom!
The Blazing Truth Luminous Palm consisted of simple techniques.
Yet each technique could contain tremendous inner force and possessed the advantage of releasing palm power with explosive speed.
Greatly flustered, Tae Mu Ryong swung the Pardu widely to dissipate the palm force.
Crash! Screeeech.
However, as the spear and halberd clashed, a tremendous explosion erupted, and Tae Mu Ryong was hurled beyond the Combat Stage.
Cheon Hwa In had poured all his inner energy into that single strike, unleashing it in one breath, and Tae Mu Ryong could not withstand the force—he was driven back.
“This match is the victory of Cheon Hwa In!”
At Yuk Cheong Ah’s declaration, Tae Mu Ryong, who had climbed back onto the Combat Stage, spoke loudly.
“What do you mean? I can still fight.”
He felt deeply wronged.
He had merely been pushed back by the overwhelming force due to his inferior inner cultivation.
Had it been a true contest, even if I had ultimately lost, I would have engaged in sufficiently fierce exchanges of offense and defense.
Yet to halt the match before we could even truly fight?
“Tae Hwa In. As I mentioned, this is not a match to divide life and death, but merely a test to discern the heights and depths of martial prowess.”
Yet Yuk Cheong Ah remained resolute.
“This match is concluded. Please return to your seat.”
At that, not only Tae Mu Ryong but all the competitors waiting for their turn stiffened.
If the match was halted at the point of merely discerning martial skill levels, who could possibly stand against Cheon Hwa In?
They would all be overwhelmed in a single exchange from the start.
Murmur, murmur.
Dissatisfied voices rippled through the arena.
Yet no one stepped forward to challenge Cheon Hwa In, and he easily advanced to the main bracket.
“Is there anyone else who wishes to challenge?”
Whoosh—
At that moment, a man dressed in ornate silk robes ascended the Combat Stage.
It was Seon Woo Jin.
“Seon Woo Jin of the Seon Hwa Trading Company.”
Swish!
Then, as if waiting for this moment, a man wearing distinctive armor on his fists leaped onto the Combat Stage.
“Jo In Woong of the Dan Ak Kwon Mun.”
Jo In Woong’s eyes gleamed as he took his stance.
Seon Woo Jin then lowered his posture and gazed at him.
Once both were ready, Yuk Cheong Ah wasted no time.
“Begin!”
The moment her voice rang out,
A powerful shockwave erupted from Jo In Woong’s body.
Simultaneously, a sharp wind began pouring toward Seon Woo Jin’s face.
—Ooh.
Gasps of admiration burst from those surrounding the Combat Stage.
He had not even deployed his fist technique yet, merely taken his stance, and already such formidable momentum was unleashed?
If he were to unfold his fist technique, would it not display the devastating power of a strike that could topple heaven and shatter earth?
‘The Malevolent Evil True Fist, then.’
Seon Woo Jin wore a bitter smile.
I had instantly discerned what fist technique Jo In Woong wielded.
Dan Ak True Fist.
At the Grand Perfection realm, one could unleash a fist force capable of toppling Mount Tai—the premier martial technique of the Dan Ak Kwon Mun.
However, it was extraordinarily difficult to master, and the techniques one could deploy were constrained by one’s inner cultivation level.
Consequently, despite possessing such a formidable martial art, the Dan Ak Kwon Mun saw its influence waning with each passing day.
Yet Jo In Woong possessed exceptional talent and had cultivated profound inner strength, mastering the Dan Ak True Fist to the eighth tier and beyond.
And through this opportunity, he sought to become a Lord of the Murim Alliance and restore honor to the Dan Ak Kwon Mun.
“Be careful.”
Jo In Woong, radiating tremendous momentum, spoke toward Bu Eunseol.
“A fist has no eyes.”
Bu Eunseol answered not with words but with a faint smile,
then began walking forward with measured steps.
She advanced slowly toward Jo In Woong and gradually extended her fingers toward his chest.
He flinched.
Yet Jo In Woong did not move, his eyes merely widening in shock.
―Why isn’t he dodging?
The onlookers wore expressions of bewilderment.
Why did Jo In Woong merely radiate his terrifying aura without deploying his fist techniques, even as his opponent approached?
Her finger made contact.
Finally, Bu Eunseol’s finger touched a vital point near Jo In Woong’s chest.
“Do you concede defeat?”
Had Bu Eunseol channeled her force through her finger in that instant, Jo In Woong would have suffered grievous injury.
His body trembled.
Jo In Woong shuddered helplessly, caught between impossible choices.
But the moment her finger made contact with his body, there was no technique in existence that could change the outcome—he had already lost.
“I yield.”
Jo In Woong clasped his hands together in shame.
Then he hastily departed the Combat Stage.
―This cannot be.
The spectators gasped in astonishment, their mouths agape.
Jo In Woong’s fierce stance had radiated an aura that seemed to cleave the heavens and shatter the earth.
Moreover, he was a renowned master of the Hae Ju region, an undefeated fist warrior who had never tasted defeat.
Yet he could not evade Bu Eunseol’s casually advancing finger and stood frozen in place?
Could it be that her martial prowess had reached the divine realm, subduing Jo In Woong’s vital points through sheer aura alone?
‘I feel somewhat sorry for him.’
Bu Eunseol, watching Jo In Woong hurriedly exit the Combat Stage, clicked his tongue.
‘But through this, he will have grasped the weakness of Young Faction Dan Ak.’
The reason I could suppress Jo In Woong in mere half a move.
It was not only because my martial prowess was superior, but because I had also mastered the Dan Ak True Fist that Jo In Woong had learned—perfectly.
For the Dan Ak True Fist was included among the secret techniques in Mu Hwang’s Secret Vault.
‘Young Faction Dan Ak is a move that must never be used in actual combat.’
The Shadow Fist of the Demon Fist technique possessed the greatest power, but the motion to gather inner force took far too long.
To compensate for this weakness, the technique incorporated a qi formation that generated tremendous momentum throughout the entire body.
However, Bu Eunseol, having already discerned the opening move of the Shadow Fist, was not deceived by that qi formation and calmly extended her hand to suppress it.
This was not to humiliate Jo In Woong, but to teach him that the Shadow Fist should never be used in actual combat.
“You recognized the opening and suppressed the initiative.”
Yuk Jang Cheon in the Spectator Seating nodded his head.
He immediately understood that Bu Eunseol had not employed any extraordinary martial technique, but rather had identified the flaws in Jo In Woong’s fist method and suppressed him accordingly.
“Is there anyone else who wishes to challenge?”
At Yuk Cheong Ah’s cry as she stepped forward again,
Whoosh.
A man with a body as thin and long as a skewer ascended the Combat Stage.
“I am Hae Jang Cheong.”
As his name echoed through the venue, gasps erupted from the crowd.
The Absolute Blade, Hae Jang Cheong.
He was a master of the swift blade, extremely renowned in Seomseong.
Though he had only been in Gangho for little more than a year, he had already engaged in thirty duels with masters of Seomseong.
And he had always achieved victory with a single blade strike.
Only his reputation as an outstanding swift blade master was known; his lineage remained unknown.
However, from the fact that he had received an invitation to the Jeong Mu Dae Hoe, it seemed certain that he was a descendant of the Righteous Path sects.
“Begin!”
At Yuk Cheong Ah’s cry, Hae Jang Cheong extended his hand.
“You may attack first.”
His gaze was keen and sharp. Bu Eunseol nodded in response.
“Very well.”
Snap.
She lightly unfurled the fan she held and covered her face with it.
Hae Jang Cheong took his stance and waited, but even after a considerable time passed, there was no sign of an attack.
Eventually, Hae Jang Cheong, who had waited with patience, furrowed his brow.
“Are you conceding the match?”
At his words, Yuk Cheong Ah stepped forward.
“Hae Xiaoxia, you have lost.”
“What are you suddenly saying?”
Instead of answering, Yuk Cheong Ah pointed to Hae Jang Cheong’s sleeve.
He tilted his head in confusion, then looked down.
“No.”
Hae Jang Cheong’s eyes widened in shock.
His sleeve had been cleanly torn into two pieces without him noticing.
“What, when?”
“When you yielded the first move, Seon Woo Xiaoxia covered her face with the fan and released a hidden blade. But you did not see it.”
In that instant, Hae Jang Cheong’s eyes widened in astonishment.
I only saw the motion of using the sleeve to slightly cover my face. When did I unleash the Hidden Blade?
“…Is this not a deception?”
Hae Jang Cheong bit his lip.
“To shoot the Hidden Blade while pretending to cover your face with a sleeve? How can this be called a technique that an upright member of the Orthodox Sects would employ?”
“Hae Sohyup.”
Yuk Cheong Ah swept her gaze over him with contempt in her eyes.
“The Hidden Blade technique is, by its very nature, a method of unleashing an attack suddenly and unpredictably so that the enemy cannot anticipate it. The fact that you only saw the motion of covering with a sleeve means you failed to detect Seon Woo’s initial move at all.”
She continued speaking in a cold voice.
“If Seon Woo had aimed for your neck, you would already be dead. Would you still call it deception even then?”
Shiver.
Hae Jang Cheong’s body trembled slightly, then he turned away with an expression of humiliation.
“I concede.”
And he slowly walked out of the Combat Stage.
‘This is hardly fitting.’
Watching Hae Jang Cheong depart with slumped shoulders like a failed scholar, Bu Eunseol felt a twinge of sympathy.
No matter how much it was dressed up as a gathering of renowned figures, it was ultimately just a meeting of promising late-stage cultivators.
But I myself am a new-generation Grand Master belonging to the Four Gods Seven Kings. In terms of actual power, I should not be facing these people at all…
Rather, I should be testing myself against Deng Wu Jeon Ju in the Spectator Seating, the Lords, and Yuk Jang Cheon.
Yet here I am, fighting with these people. From their perspective, it must feel like a grown adult bullying children.
“Are there any other challengers?”
When no challenger stepped onto the Combat Stage even after a considerable time, Yuk Cheong Ah called out.
“Seon Woo has passed the preliminary round.”
Bu Eunseol clasped her hands lightly together and descended from the Combat Stage.
“This one’s martial prowess is not particularly exceptional, yet she is skilled in combat. She shows no signs of nervousness whatsoever—quite composed.”
Yuk Jang Cheon, who had been watching Bu Eunseol descend from the Spectator Seating, spoke to Gu In Jeong with an impressed expression.
“Moreover, her technique of secretly unleashing the Hidden Blade could truly be called unparalleled in the Murim.”
“Given that she has dealt with countless demon bandits, it makes sense.”
As he continued to shower praise, Gu Jeong In spoke in a displeased tone.
“However, composure and skill only work against opponents of similar caliber.”
“Mm.”
Yuk Jang Cheon made a sound of agreement.
“Indeed, she has faced rather easy opponents so far.”
In the first match, Jo In Woong attempted to display his trump card but suffered an absurd defeat.
The second opponent, Hae Jang Cheong, likewise conceded the first strike out of arrogance and fell to a subtle technique.
In truth, there had been no real display of martial prowess.
“Well, we shall see as we continue to observe.”
Yuk Jang Cheon nodded and returned his attention to the martial contest.
The preliminary matches of the Renowned Figures Tournament were not made public in their results, and they were closer to an examination for selecting the third-rank Lords of the Murim Alliance.
Therefore, before the victor could even be determined, if the martial prowess of the two fighters showed a clear disparity, the match would be halted immediately.
Because of this, what would normally take several days for the preliminary round was finished in less than half a day.
“Now we shall commence the main tournament.”
Given that this was no ordinary martial arts competition, the proceedings advanced with remarkable swiftness.
Moreover, due to the rule that matches ceased the moment one’s martial prowess became apparent, there were no brutal, desperate battles—only peaceful, somewhat monotonous contests continuing in succession.
Bu Eunseol advanced through the main bracket with remarkable fluidity.
Occasionally, unexpectedly formidable masters appeared, yet to Bu Eunseol, they were merely children executing clever attacks.
―Her combat instincts were exceptionally sharp, handling everything with composure and unflappable calm.
This was the demeanor I had crafted for Seon Woo Jin.
Having spent so long eliminating bandit gangs, I emphasized abundant combat experience and quick thinking.
Through composure, I demonstrated the prowess of a late-stage master, surpassing even those of early advancement.
After successive matches, two figures finally ascended to the finals.
Seon Woo Jin versus Cheon Hwa In.
These two would now face each other in the championship bout.
“Young Master Seon Woo, Young Master Cheon. Please ascend the Combat Stage.”
The finals proceeded with equal swiftness.
The final match to select the Murim Alliance’s new Lord was beginning.
Whoosh.
As I deployed my movement technique lightly and ascended the Combat Stage, I could see Cheon Hwa In standing tall before me.
“I look forward to our match.”
As I offered a respectful bow, Cheon Hwa In responded with silence, merely clasping his hands together lightly.
This was no ordinary martial arts tournament, after all—merely a competition between rivals vying for the Lord’s seat.
It seemed he felt no need to cultivate rapport or exchange pleasantries.
「If you’re from the upper echelons, why not conduct yourself as such? Perhaps count your coins instead?」
Then Cheon Hwa In’s cold voice transmission reached my ears.
「Better not climb a tree you cannot reach, lest you suffer grievous injury.」
Rather than respond, I allowed a faint smile to grace my lips.
Cheon Hwa In’s mood darkened considerably.
That smile was far too composed and serene.
‘A puppy unaware of the tiger’s terror,’ he thought.
He had observed my matches throughout.
My victories stemmed from combat proficiency and dazzling technique alone. My martial prowess did not appear superior to his own.
Moreover, my true technique was not orthodox swordsmanship, but a secret blade art concealed within my sleeves.
Given the nature of secret blade arts—which must silence enemies in a single move—the confined space of the Combat Stage was an extremely disadvantageous arena.
“Begin!”
Yuk Cheong Ah’s cry rang out, yet both figures remained motionless.
Shing.
As Cheon Hwa In drew his blade, a sharp wave of true energy began to emanate slowly from his form.
The air upon the Combat Stage grew frigid and dense, as though a cold, murderous wind were sweeping across.
Yet I did not gaze upon Cheon Hwa In’s face—only his hands.
The Huashan Sect’s swordplay was the most fluid and keen among orthodox techniques, with techniques manifesting at highly unpredictable moments.
Should my concentration waver even slightly, my head might be severed before I could comprehend what had transpired.
Of course, if Bu Eunseol were to rely on her true strength, she wouldn’t need to study his hands at all.
‘She knows quite a lot about our sect’s swordsmanship.’
As Bu Eunseol stared at Cheon Hwa In’s hands with piercing intensity, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.
‘But you mustn’t forget that I am a master of the Great Path.’
In that instant, Cheon Hwa In’s right hand erupted with brilliant light.
The long sword he wielded suddenly shot forth explosively, aiming directly at Bu Eunseol’s chest.
Whoosh.
Bu Eunseol, unable to dare meet such a keen strike head-on, quickly retreated a step backward.
Yet Cheon Hwa In clung to her like a phantom, unleashing a torrent of razor-sharp sword techniques.
Flash! Flash!
Accompanied by brilliant radiance, a chilling sword wind began to sweep across Bu Eunseol’s left and right, as if flaying the very skin.
It was not Huashan swordsmanship, but the Seven Absolute Sword Forms that the Murim Alliance had transmitted to him.
‘It’s been a while.’
Upon seeing those keen sword techniques, Bu Eunseol felt a faint memory stir within her heart.
The Seven Absolute Sword Forms.
Wasn’t that the very Murim Alliance swordsmanship that Young Ji Wi, a master of Jeomchang whom she had first encountered at the Jeong Mu Dae Hoe, had displayed before her?
Tap.
Knowing well the keenness of the Seven Absolute Sword Forms, Bu Eunseol swiftly launched herself into mid-air, evading the cascading sword energy.
Clang!
Simultaneously, a brilliant gleam bloomed from her sleeve as two hidden blades pierced toward Cheon Hwa In’s brow and lower abdomen at once.
Clang!
As Cheon Hwa In flicked the hidden blades away with his long sword, Bu Eunseol safely landed back below the Combat Stage.
With a method both simple and ingenious, she had severed the endless chain of techniques from the Seven Absolute Sword Forms.
‘This one.’
Cheon Hwa In’s eyebrows rose as Bu Eunseol blocked the Seven Absolute Sword Forms with such effortless ease.
‘So she really means to do this.’
Cheon Hwa In’s original plan had been to display overwhelming martial prowess at the Martial Arts Tournament, thereby silencing all gossip regarding this biased selection of Lords.
But if he were to engage in a fierce exchange with this nameless successor of a merchant guild?
Inevitably, rumors would spread, and worse still, he would have no face to show to Gu Elder, who had trusted him and set this matter in motion.
‘I cannot afford to prolong this!’
Cheon Hwa In raised his sword upward and drew upon his inner power.
Without delay, he would unfold his signature technique—the Dark Fragrance Sparse Shadow Sword—and end the match in a single breath.
‘How dare you!’
In that instant, a flash of lightning ignited in Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
He dared to unleash before her the very swordsmanship that had crippled Young Moon Ho.
Her chest became a blazing furnace, and an uncontrollable killing intent erupted from within her.

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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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