The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 554

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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 554.
‘A most distinctive demonic blade.’
Bu Eunseol’s eyes deepened with intrigue.
The demonic blade that Do Cheon Rin wielded
had a blade that sparkled with many hues, slender as a willow branch, and curved with the graceful arc of a crescent moon blade.
Its appearance was so resplendent that it resembled a beautiful woman adorned in exquisite garments.
‘There is no avoiding it.’
Bu Eunseol exhaled deeply.
I know the secret of the demonic blades that Sam Gye has scattered.
And having resolved to become Sam Gye’s blade by utilizing that secret,
whether now or in the distant future, my fate is to inevitably clash with Do Cheon Rin.
The blade sang as it was drawn.
Bu Eunseol unsheathed the Muk Hon Blade.
Do Cheon Rin, who had been observing the darkened blade that resembled an ancient iron sword, narrowed his eyes.
“You’ve concealed the demonic aura perfectly.”
He nodded faintly.
“Or perhaps it is a demonic blade capable of releasing its aura only when desired.”
From merely sensing the demonic aura once,
Do Cheon Rin was already deducing much about the Muk Hon Blade.
“You may strike first.”
Do Cheon Rin yielded the opening move.
Bu Eunseol, having reached the state of serene clarity,
reveals neither martial intent nor vital energy until martial techniques are deployed.
Thus, to any observer, I could only appear to possess unremarkable skill.
“Very well.”
Bu Eunseol raised the Muk Hon Blade while regarding Do Cheon Rin, whose wild vitality radiated abundantly.
‘Hmm.’
Yet something felt amiss.
Do Cheon Rin had treated me relatively well since Hell Island.
Though his intention was to bring me under his command, there had been no ill will between us from beginning to end.
“You still haven’t awakened it.”
As Bu Eunseol hesitated to attack, Do Cheon Rin spoke unexpectedly.
“Awakened? What do you mean by that?”
When Bu Eunseol tilted his head in confusion, Do Cheon Rin sighed softly.
“You haven’t possessed the demonic blade for long.”
“That is true.”
“The more powerful warriors you slay, the deeper the radiance of your demonic blade becomes. Only then can you properly utilize the true functions of the blade.”
‘Ah, so that was it.’
Only now did I understand why,
when I met Wang Cheol in the past, the Samgye Emissary had asked if I still hadn’t awakened it.
“I see. I was unaware.”
As Bu Eunseol treated him with unwavering courtesy, Do Cheon Rin drew a deep breath.
“Hmm.”
Do Cheon Rin shook his head with a snort.
He had realized that Bu Eunseol had no desire to engage him in combat.
In truth, somewhere deep within himself, he too felt no enthusiasm for this confrontation.
Click.
In the end, Do Cheon Rin sheathed the blade he had drawn.
“I offer you one piece of advice.”
With a sigh, he pointed to the Muk Hon Sword that Bu Eunseol held.
“If you wish to preserve your life henceforth, cast that blade off the cliff immediately.”
Turning away, he spoke with utter indifference.
“You cannot possibly survive this confrontation.”
And the moment he was about to unfold his divine technique,
Zing!
A peculiar sensation pierced Do Cheon Rin’s mind.
In an instant, he felt the formidable aura of a powerful demonic blade.
The distance was several hundred zhang away.
To be sensed at such a distance meant the wielder possessed exceptional skill and commanded a formidable demonic blade.
“How intriguing.”
Do Cheon Rin smiled and immediately unleashed his divine technique.
Whoosh!
Leaping into the void, he unfolded a technique as swift as lightning and vanished from that place in an instant.
As Do Cheon Rin’s form, now a black speck, disappeared, Bu Eunseol let out an exclamation of admiration.
“His strength has grown considerably.”
Judging by his divine technique alone, it was incomparable to his past self.
He had clearly undergone grueling cultivation, and his martial prowess had advanced tremendously as a result.
‘He sensed something.’
As the Yeouui True Seal that I had infused into the Muk Hon Sword dissipated entirely, I could no longer perceive the demonic energy of another demonic blade user.
Yet from the way Do Cheon Rin had kindled his fighting spirit and unfolded his divine technique, I could infer that he had detected another demonic blade wielder.
Whoosh!
Leaping into the void, Bu Eunseol unfolded her divine technique in the direction Do Cheon Rin had vanished.
Do Cheon Rin, who had unfolded a divine technique as fierce as a tempest, arrived at the cliff’s edge atop a desolate mountain peak.
And there stood a man wielding a demonic blade whose blade was densely inscribed with scale-like protrusions.
Thud.
Landing before the man, Do Cheon Rin glanced around briefly before letting out a scoff.
“Quite the clever scheme.”
Scanning the cliff’s surroundings twice, he muttered in a low voice.
“Rather than a single wielder unleashing powerful demonic energy, multiple individuals released their demonic essence simultaneously.”
Swish.
The moment the murmuring ceased.
Two men slowly emerged from behind Do Cheon Rin.
These three were all part of the same group.
They deliberately unleashed the demonic energy of their Demonic Blades, lured in those drawn to it, and attacked them all at once to claim victory.
“Hehehehe.”
The three martial artists, upon seeing the Demonic Blade that Do Cheon Rin wielded, spoke with sinister smiles.
“That appears to be a Demonic Blade with quite impressive capabilities.”
“Hand over the Demonic Blade if you wish to live.”
“If this elder is in a good mood, we might even spare your life.”
Do Cheon Rin yawned and shook his head.
“Do you truly believe that by stealing multiple Demonic Blades in this manner, you can emerge victorious?”
“Hehehehe. You must know well that each Demonic Blade possesses different capabilities?”
The muscular man standing at the front wore a sinister smile.
“The more we accumulate, the more diverse powers we can wield.”
As they collected more Demonic Blades.
They had realized they could utilize their functions in increasingly varied ways, and thus banded together to collect them.
“Precisely the tactics of the weak struggling to survive.”
Do Cheon Rin gazed at the men surrounding him and let out a soft chuckle.
“But the capabilities of a Demonic Blade are merely supplementary. Without inherent strength, survival is impossible from the start.”
Shing.
The moment Do Cheon Rin drew his Demonic Blade, their complexions shifted.
Though they had fought countless Demonic Blade users until now, they had never witnessed a blade that radiated such intense brilliance and demonic energy.
“This much…was it?”
Only now did they realize they had touched death itself.
“Wait, wait a moment.”
The three martial artists raised their hands in surrender.
“There’s no need for this fight….”
Clang.
Do Cheon Rin cut off their words, raising his Demonic Blade horizontally to the height of his head.
It was a threatening stance as if he would immediately thrust toward their faces.
‘That’s not the stance of Blood Flame Sect technique.’
Bu Eunseol, who had been watching from a distance, brightened her eyes.
Do Cheon Rin, as the young master of the Blood-Dyed Sword School, had long cultivated the Blood Flame Sect technique, the highest martial art of the Demonic Path.
Yet now, was he not adopting the stance used by the warriors of Dong Yeong?
It possessed such violent intensity as if he would rush forward and thrust immediately, making it rather a one-strike-certain-death stance that prevented the opponent from easily approaching.
“Damn it! Even if that bastard is formidable, we are three!”
Realizing they could not avoid the fight, the three martial artists gathered their courage and launched their assault.
Zing.
As they fully engaged in combat, brilliant light poured forth from the Demonic Blades gripped by the three men.
The capabilities of the Demonic Blades they possessed were.
Even when executing ordinary techniques, his sword unleashed power equivalent to that of any ascending sword art.
When three such blades poured forth their absolute techniques simultaneously, the force was enough to cleave the heavens and shake the earth.
A brilliant flash!
In that instant, Do Cheon Rin’s body became a streak of light.
A sickening crack!
At the same moment, among the three martial artists—
the neck of the one standing in the center shot skyward.
‘That technique…’
Bu Eunseol, watching from her hiding place, could not conceal her astonishment.
The sword technique Do Cheon Rin had just employed.
It was not the way of the Blood-Dyed Sword School, but rather the true divine sword art of the Phantom Demon Sovereign, who had swept through the Murim four hundred years ago.
The Dream-Reaching Phantom Demon Sword.
‘Remarkable.’
Bu Eunseol nodded slowly.
Do Cheon Rin’s martial prowess had advanced by leaps and bounds, reaching a level incomparable to his past self.
‘He has skillfully blended the Dream-Reaching Phantom Demon Sword with the Blood-Dyed Sword techniques.’
Do Cheon Rin had woven together the Dream-Reaching Phantom Demon Sword and the Blood-Dyed techniques with exquisite precision, combining their strengths.
Because of this, he displayed a marked difference in martial prowess compared to those who clung solely to the demonic sword’s functions.
A clear metallic ring!
At that moment, the sword held by one of the martial artists was sent flying down the cliff with a bright clang.
“Aaahhh!”
Simultaneously, the mortally wounded martial artist let out a harrowing scream as he plummeted over the precipice.
The internal energy contained within Do Cheon Rin’s blade was so overwhelming that the man’s organs ruptured before he was driven off the cliff.
A sickening crack, then tumbling sounds.
In less than a dozen exchanges, the last remaining martial artist’s head rolled across the ground.
“If you’ve finished watching, you might as well come out.”
Do Cheon Rin, having slain all three martial artists, suddenly turned his head and spoke in a loud voice.
His gaze was fixed upon the tree where Bu Eunseol had concealed herself.
‘Has he reached the same level as I have?’
Upon being discovered by Do Cheon Rin, Bu Eunseol could not hide her shock.
To sense her presence from a distance of roughly twenty paces while she had completely suppressed her aura?
Did this not mean that Do Cheon Rin had reached a martial level approaching her own?
“Impressive indeed.”
Bu Eunseol slowly descended from the tree, unable to resist.
“To sense my presence at such a level.”
Do Cheon Rin shook his head.
“It is not because my martial prowess is exceptional that I sensed your presence, but rather because this Phantom Demon Sword felt it.”
And he wore a bitter expression.
“Your sword sheath appears to be crafted from a spirit stone similar to that of this Phantom Demon Sword.”
“A remarkable function indeed.”
“If you could completely fool my perception, you would have to be quite an accomplished master.”
As Bu Eunseol answered calmly, flames ignited in Do Cheon Rin’s eyes.
“So you wished to mock me while concealing your true strength.”
“I—”
Bu Eunseol began to speak but shook his head instead.
There was no avoiding a confrontation now.
Reluctantly, I drew the Muk Hon Sword.
Shing.
As the darkly lustrous blade, resembling iron steel, revealed itself, a chilling sharpness radiated outward in all directions.
The fact that it emanated such keenness without even channeling inner energy meant—
The Muk Hon Sword as well.
It seemed to sense that Do Cheon Rin and the Hwan Ma Sword possessed equally formidable power.
Clang!
Do Cheon Rin launched his attack without hesitation.
Unlike those of the Orthodox Sects, the practitioners of the Demonic Path—
When combat commenced, they did not concern themselves with ceremony or pretense. They sought only victory, only to fell their opponent.
Whoosh!
Moreover, the characteristic of the Mong Do Hwan Ma Sword Technique was—
Though it appeared deceptively slow on the surface, it was in truth faster than any swift blade technique.
The sword method, pouring down butterfly-like and leisurely, produced a brief cutting sound before—
In an instant, the tip of Do Cheon Rin’s blade had already reached Bu Eunseol’s chest.
Whoosh.
Bu Eunseol immediately deployed the Extreme Speed Shadowless technique to evade the blade.
But Do Cheon Rin, having already anticipated his movement, altered his sword form.
The Hwan Ma Sword’s tip then pursued Bu Eunseol like a living creature, clinging closely to his heels.
Boom!
As the Muk Hon Sword and Hwan Ma Sword collided, a sound like a temple bell resonated, and waves of inner energy rippled outward in all directions.
“Your sword technique is considerable.”
Do Cheon Rin realized that Bu Eunseol was still concealing his strength and his eyes gleamed.
“But I have not yet unleashed my true technique!”
A single streak of rainbow light surged from Do Cheon Rin’s demonic blade.
As it drew near Bu Eunseol’s body, it transformed into dozens of strands of sword energy—
Piercing toward the vital points at a speed faster than lightning.
He had combined the Mong Do Hwan Ma Sword Technique with the Blood Flame Sect’s methods once more.
Clang clang clang clang!
Bu Eunseol deployed the Iron Sword Thirteen Forms to repel the sword energy in one sweeping motion.
Yet the weight of the sword energy Do Cheon Rin unleashed possessed a heaviness as if a massive iron mass had been hurled forth.
Whine!
Ultimately, one strand of sword energy that the Iron Sword Thirteen Forms could not completely block grazed across Bu Eunseol’s cheek.
Yet I paid no mind to the wound on my cheek, sending the Muk Hon Sword toward my back.
Clang!
A crystalline metallic ring echoed through the air.
It was astonishing.
As it turned out, all the sword qi Bu Eunseol had deflected until now had circled back, targeting his spine.
It was a ghostly, seamless technique—the Returning Spiral Secret Method.
“Impressive.”
Bu Eunseol let out an exclamation of admiration.
I had fought countless masters until now.
Yet I had never even heard of a technique that could secretly redirect deflected sword qi in such a manner.
Clang! Ching!
Moreover, with each clash of blades, I felt a tremendous force transmitted through my fingertips.
I could infer that Do Cheon Rin had devoted himself not only to swordplay but also to cultivating his inner power.
“Ha!”
As Bu Eunseol casually deflected the Returning Spiral technique.
Do Cheon Rin, as if startled, altered his swordplay with a shout and movements swift as lightning.
Yet the more attacks he unleashed, the more Do Cheon Rin’s expression twisted.
Though he seemed to be thrusting his blade carelessly, was he not effortlessly blocking the subtleties of the Demon Realm Phantom Sword and the Blood Flame Sect’s techniques?
Moreover, his expression bore no trace of tension whatsoever—this was not combat.
It was as if he had merely stepped out for a casual stroll through the neighborhood.
‘This man.’
Do Cheon Rin bit his lip.
All this time, wandering the Gangho, I had cultivated my martial arts with bitter determination, finally achieving breakthroughs.
After obtaining the Demon Realm Phantom Sword, my power had surged dramatically, and I had prided myself that there were scarcely any masters of the new generation with martial prowess comparable to mine.
Yet here was a master of such extraordinary skill, hidden away at an age nearly identical to my own?
Screech.
Do Cheon Rin halted his assault momentarily and retreated.
“Those who have reached this level of martial prowess at your age are typically of predictable origins… yet I recognize your face not at all.”
With a tense expression, he raised the Demon Realm Phantom Sword and questioned again.
“You are no unknown nobody. Reveal your identity.”
“Does it matter who I am?”
At Bu Eunseol’s words, Do Cheon Rin’s complexion hardened rigidly.
Such a response sounded to him like mockery.
“Do not celebrate prematurely. I have yet to display my true power.”
From Do Cheon Rin’s entire body, an aura burst forth as if hundreds of arrows were being unleashed.
Simultaneously, a faint luminescence kindled within the Demon Realm Phantom Sword.
‘Is he attempting to employ all the functions of the demonic blade?’
The demonic blades scattered by Sam Gye all possessed destructive functions that transcended conventional martial principles.
Until now, Do Cheon Rin had wielded his martial arts with straightforward integrity.
But now he intended to activate the blade’s functions, amplifying the potency of his martial techniques.
Rumble, rumble, rumble. Boom!
Do Cheon Rin’s body seemed to collapse forward as if aligning perpendicular to the ground.
Suddenly, a deafening explosion erupted.
Simultaneously, a ghostly torrent of sword energy—nearly impossible to detect—poured forth.
The explosion appeared to be a technique designed to obscure the trajectories of those sword strikes.
‘One from the right flank, one from above my head.’
Bu Eunseol’s eyes gleamed with intensity.
‘The rest sweep in from the left rear, each carrying different speeds and martial principles.’
Hidden within the ear-splitting blast.
Even masters with keen supernatural senses could not possibly detect these sword traces.
Yet Bu Eunseol, having reached the pinnacle of the Beast Path, perceived the trajectories of those invisible, unfelt sword energies with crystalline clarity.
And immediately, I swung the Muk Hon Sword, annihilating all those sword strikes in one breath.
Crash!
But an unexpected situation unfolded.
As I struck the sword energy, my body was driven backward by the explosion and tremendous force.
“Hmm.”
Bu Eunseol let out an exclamation.
Now I realized that the sword energy Do Cheon Rin unleashed contained not only explosive heavy-sword techniques,
but he had predicted both my defensive movements and their timing, accelerating the pressure of his heavy-sword strike accordingly.
Such sword traces were extraordinarily difficult to execute, yet when successful, they produced devastating effects.
Merely having one’s movements read could cause fighting spirit to plummet dramatically.
But unfortunately for him, his opponent was Bu Eunseol.
‘He’s grown stronger. Truly.’
As Do Cheon Rin displayed his remarkable swordsmanship, my fighting spirit instead blazed higher.
I already stood as the supreme powerhouse among the younger generation.
Moreover, until now, I had fought for my life against masters of superior age and martial prowess,
so every intense battle was a continuous succession of mind-shattering exchanges and tension.
But now, engaging in a pure, unadulterated duel with a next-generation powerhouse of the same generation, combat became genuinely exhilarating.
‘I wish I could fight a little longer.’
Bu Eunseol felt a pang of regret.
And though I would ultimately emerge victorious, I wished to continue fighting him a while longer.
Slash, slash, slash!
Bu Eunseol unleashed three successive sword strikes to intercept Do Cheon Rin’s swordsmanship.
Thereupon, sharp sword energies as keen as dragons soaring through the void pierced toward Do Cheon Rin’s vital points.
It was the Dark Heaven Demon Dragon Sword learned from Jeol Cheon Myul Ji.
‘Demonic Path swordsmanship?’
In that instant, Do Cheon Rin’s eyebrows twitched.
Based on his manner of speech and demeanor, I had taken him for an Orthodox Sect master,
or perhaps a wandering swordsman maintaining neutrality between factions.
But he turned out to be a figure of the Demonic Path?
‘Then I simply need to defeat him.’
Do Cheon Rin’s expression shifted as he let out a scoff and moved to deflect the sword technique.
The Am Cheon Ma Yong Sword was the pinnacle of Demonic Path swordplay, but its forms unfolded at a somewhat leisurely pace.
Yet the Am Cheon Ma Yong Sword that Bu Eunseol unleashed—not only did each move strike with the speed of lightning, but it possessed a destructive force capable of shattering a demonic blade itself.
Crack! Screech!
Moreover, with each expansion of her sword forms, violet lightning scattered in all directions.
It was as if the legendary Thunder God Neung Bi Hon had suddenly appeared and was wielding the Am Cheon Ma Yong Sword himself.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
With each clear ring of steel, the two blades collided, and the distance between them narrowed until they could see each other’s faces.
In that instant, Do Cheon Rin beheld eyes that were coldly frozen.
They appeared frozen like ancient glaciers, yet deep within burned flames as radiant as the sun itself.
‘They resemble…’
Do Cheon Rin knew of another person who possessed such eyes.
That person was the most renowned figure in the current Demonic Path and the next-generation leader destined to guide the Demon Hall.
‘But if I were to face him again now, I could emerge victorious!’
Whoosh!
Do Cheon Rin twisted his grip on the Hwan Ma Sword, and a ghostly, imperceptible sword aura erupted from the ground beneath him.
Due to the nature of the Hwan Ma Sword, close-range offensive and defensive exchanges occurred frequently.
Thus, Do Cheon Rin had combined the Hwan Ma Sword’s ultimate technique, Accumulated Resentment Deep Fury, with the Blood Flame Sect method Cloud Rainbow White Light.
Creating an absolutely inescapable ultimate technique.
Zing!
Yet in that moment, transparent energy poured forth from Bu Eunseol’s left hand.
She had anticipated that Do Cheon Rin would unleash a hidden sword technique erupting upward from the ground.
Deploying the Wish-Fulfilling True Seal merged with her Crystal Divine Energy, she forcibly suppressed the sword aura.
Flash!
But then an unforeseen situation erupted.
Light burst forth from the distant sky.
Suddenly scattering like fireworks, thousands of sword auras descended like rain.
Moreover, these luminous sword auras did not spread widely but concentrated their assault directly upon Bu Eunseol and Do Cheon Rin.
‘Ah.’
Do Cheon Rin cursed inwardly.
Those luminous sword auras.
They were the Blood Lightning Aura of the one wielding the Blood War Sword whom he had been pursuing relentlessly.
Because that person had avoided direct confrontation and continuously fled, he had assumed they were still in retreat.
But to think they would circle around him like this and launch a surprise attack upon spotting an opportunity?
Rumble!
Yet in that moment, hundreds of sword flowers bloomed overhead in clusters, annihilating the descending auras.
Bu Eunseol had swung her blade and completely blocked all of the Blood Lightning Aura.
‘This cannot be.’
Do Cheon Rin’s eyes widened in shock.
The timing of his ultimate technique’s deployment and the Blood Lightning Aura’s assault had been nearly simultaneous.
Yet he had blocked both techniques simultaneously.
Didn’t that mean he was facing a master who could command at least twice as much temporal perception as himself?
Clang! Clang clang clang!
As the sword aura and Blood Lightning Technique collided in succession, a piercing metallic resonance rang out.
When Blood Lightning Technique was unleashed, it scattered over a hundred sword qi strikes at minimum.
Since he couldn’t deflect them all at once, his blade had to move multiple times.
Flash!
In that moment, a keen light settled in Do Cheon Rin’s eyes.
Bu Eunseol had deployed her sword technique simultaneously.
By blocking both the upper and lower sword forms, she had exposed a perfect opening.
‘Now I can kill her.’
Demonic Blade users inevitably clashed and determined victory through combat.
There was the matter of acquiring new Demonic Blade functions, but the stronger the opponent one slew, the stronger one became.
The Demonic Blade one possessed grew increasingly formidable.
A low growl.
Do Cheon Rin gripped the hilt of the Hwan Ma Blade tightly.
The stronger the opponent one killed, the stronger one became.
If he could slay such a master, the Hwan Ma Blade’s power could double.
And that golden opportunity lay right before him.
It was a temptation no martial artist wielding a Demonic Blade could possibly resist.

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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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