The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 70

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 70.
When an incomprehensible answer came back, Heuk Pyo’s face hardened like stone.
“What do you mean by that?”
“If you had such money, you could simply hire an assassin directly. So why ask me?”
“That is….”
“What you’ve just done reveals that he is a master beyond the reach of even three thousand gold taels.”
At those words, Heuk Pyo’s complexion turned ashen.
Just as Bu Eunseol said, Yeop Hwa was a supreme master who could not be killed with merely three Myoan stones. That was precisely why Heuk Pyo had failed to eliminate him thus far.
“You seem not much older than I am, yet you speak as though you’ve spent decades wandering the Gangho.”
Heuk Pyo lowered his hands, putting away the poison stones.
“It is true. Three Myoan stones cannot kill a supreme master like Yeop Hwa.”
“Then why did you make such a request of me?”
“Because you are young and possess tremendous skill. More importantly, you have only recently entered the Gangho… I believed you would have no hesitation in killing him.”
Heuk Pyo spoke in a low voice.
“Yeop Hwa is known as a righteous man. Only fearless newcomers can accomplish such a deed.”
Killing a master known throughout the martial world as virtuous is a difficult undertaking.
Because doing so invites accusations of being a heavenly demon or a killing star, drawing fingers of scorn.
In the worst cases, one becomes branded a public enemy of the martial world, marked for elimination by the Orthodox Sects.
“I apologize for making such an unreasonable request. Will you forget this matter quietly?”
When Bu Eunseol nodded, Heuk Pyo pressed his hands together.
“Thank you.”
Bu Eunseol merely stared intently at Heuk Pyo as he departed, shoulders sagging.
The next day.
The Martial Excellence Tournament proceeded swiftly.
Gok Woon Cheong versus Wi Jin Gang.
Bu Eunseol versus Yeop Hwa.
The first match ended in Wi Jin Gang’s victory. Though Gok Woon Cheong was a master of the Orthodox Sects, he could not withstand Wi Jin Gang’s tyrannical swordsmanship and lost an arm.
“This next bout is between the comet-like newcomer Bu Eunseol and our organization’s master, the Benevolent Wanderer Yeop Hwa!”
As Cho Mun Cheon finished speaking, a middle-aged man in a yellow robe ascended the Combat Stage.
In his mid-thirties with an excellent physique and eyes brimming with vitality, he bore no resemblance to someone capable of heinous deeds.
“I look forward to this match.”
Yeop Hwa treated Bu Eunseol, who was more than a dozen years his junior, with utmost courtesy.
His bearing resembled not that of a vagrant, but rather a righteous master of an Orthodox Sect.
Bu Eunseol said nothing, pressed her hands together, and drew her sword.
‘Stronger than I expected.’
Yeop Hwa, who had spent years as a bounty hunter and endured countless real battles.
His stance was remarkably similar to Bu Eunseol’s—appearing perfectly at ease yet revealing no openings.
“Since skill and age do not always correlate… this humble Yeop shall take the first move!”
As Bu Eunseol stood motionless like a stone monument, Yeop Hwa initiated his attack.
Slash.
A flawless strike, executed with pristine efficiency.
Ordinarily, one would have no choice but to retreat and assume a defensive stance against such a blow, but the opponent was Bu Eunseol.
A low hum resonated through the air.
By merely reversing the sword’s tip, Bu Eunseol twisted the trajectory of Yeop Hwa’s strike entirely.
Yet Yeop Hwa, already aware that Bu Eunseol wielded the Sword Extreme Form, remained unperturbed and rotated his blade in response.
A rapid succession of metallic whispers filled the space.
His powerfully rotating sword released wisps of pale mist as blade tips thrust forth from all directions.
‘The Scattered Sword technique?’
The swordsmanship Yeop Hwa unleashed was the Scattered Sword—a rapid technique that conjured countless illusory sword images in chaotic profusion.
A sharp ringing cry echoed out.
Bu Eunseol deployed the Sword Extreme Form once more, but deflecting all fourteen cascading sword images in different directions proved too difficult.
A sharp metallic clash rang out.
As four of the Scattered Sword strikes pierced through the Sword Extreme Form, Bu Eunseol swung her blade to parry all of Yeop Hwa’s attacks.
A whistling sound cut through the air.
Yet Yeop Hwa’s torrential strikes vanished like phantoms, then reconverged into a single blade that thrust toward Bu Eunseol’s chest.
‘The transitions are remarkably swift.’
Yeop Hwa was not merely a master of the Scattered Sword—he was a seasoned combatant.
Had Bu Eunseol possessed only ordinary skill, she might have been so startled by this technique that she would have surrendered her blade in defeat.
‘But she is far too straightforward.’
Bu Eunseol retreated like lightning, then rotated her blade in a wide arc and brought it to meet Yeop Hwa’s Scattered Sword thrust aimed at her chest.
A resonant boom erupted.
With a sound like a temple bell tolling, a powerful shockwave burst forth, forcing Yeop Hwa backward.
She had deployed a formidable heavy sword technique, using its counter-force to repel his blade.
“Tch.”
Yeop Hwa released a frustrated grunt and unleashed the Scattered Sword technique once more.
A rapid barrage of strikes erupted.
This time, he released only eight sword images, yet their power intensified and their execution grew more exquisite.
‘How peculiar.’
As Bu Eunseol deflected the Scattered Sword strikes again, her eyes gleamed with insight.
Yeop Hwa wielded only straightforward, honest techniques—as if he were a venerable master of Shaolin. When such an experienced expert employed only honest techniques, there were only two possibilities.
Either his character was so righteous and fair that he could never deceive an opponent.
‘Or he deliberately employs crude sword techniques to lure me into a trap.’
A sharp metallic cascade rang out.
As Bu Eunseol deflected all eight sword images, Yeop Hwa withdrew slightly.
“Phew. You are truly remarkable.”
Yeop Hwa exhaled deeply, a wry smile crossing his face.
“I cannot fathom how a young master of your caliber remained unknown until now.”
“….”
“A taciturn youth. I appreciate that.”
As Bu Eunseol remained silent, Yeop Hwa took a deep breath and spoke.
“From this moment forward, I shall unleash the Threefold Transmission Sword. Should you manage to defend against my three techniques, I shall immediately concede defeat.”
His proposal was meant to prevent unnecessary bloodshed. The martial artists gathered in the Plaza nodded and applauded in approval.
―Truly, Yeop Hwa. Even facing a rising prodigy, he conducts himself with such integrity!
At that moment, Yeop Hwa raised his blade and unleashed a mountain sword technique with a sharp cry.
“Threefold Transmission Sword, First Technique: Daylight at the Summit.”
In that instant, the shadow of the mountain sword—transparent as glass—cascaded down upon Bu Eunseol’s head.
Whoooosh!
Observing the mountain sword split into shards of light, Bu Eunseol suddenly ignored them entirely and swung her blade directly forward.
Clang clang clang!
The sword shadows that had been above her head vanished, and in the next instant, Yeop Hwa’s mountain sword was pouring down upon her from the front.
“Sharp eyes indeed. Now receive the Second Technique. Second Technique: Bloom and Wither in a Single Breath!”
The mountain sword, now recovered by Yeop Hwa’s blade, transformed into hundreds of sword flowers that enveloped Bu Eunseol’s entire body like mist.
Tssssss….
It was impossible to distinguish which was the true blade and which was shadow—a technique of infinite variation. It appeared less like a mountain sword and more like an illusory sword.
‘Hmm.’
Yet Bu Eunseol parried each mountain sword with a bored expression.
With the superhuman senses granted by the Way of the Beast, such mountain sword techniques were merely beautiful deceptions to her.
“Hehehehe.”
But something was strange.
Even as Bu Eunseol leisurely defended against the blades, Yeop Hwa wore a smile of satisfaction.
“Excellent. Then the Third Technique: Devour Alive and Flay the Skin!”
This technique’s name was peculiar.
The previous names had been ordinary, yet suddenly this one spoke of “devouring alive and flaying skin”?
‘This is—!’
Bu Eunseol’s eyes flashed as she intercepted the cascading mountain swords.
Slash!
In that moment, her stance wavered and blood sprayed upward. She had failed to defend against Yeop Hwa’s cascading mountain swords, and her shoulder was cut.
“Hehehehe. It seems you cannot perfectly defend against all three techniques after all.”
Swish swish swish!
As Yeop Hwa unleashed his blade in rapid succession, Bu Eunseol was forced to deploy her footwork and retreat.
Bu Eunseol, who had been defending against the mountain swords and securing victory, was suddenly showing signs of defeat?
As she failed to counter Yeop Hwa’s mountain swords, the spectators began to whisper among themselves.
―Indeed. No matter how remarkable a prodigy may be, can they truly stand against a seasoned veteran like Yeop Hwa?
At that moment, Bu Eunseol ceased her footwork and extended her blade toward the cascading mountain swords.
Clang!
She barely managed to block the perilous strike aimed at her throat, but unable to overcome the counter-force, she was driven back three more steps.
“Hehehehe. My mountain swords grow heavier with each passing moment.”
Yeop Hwa, having momentarily withdrawn his blade, extended one hand and spoke with courtesy.
“I would advise you to concede defeat before suffering grievous injury.”
His bearing was like that of an Orthodox Sect master, and applause erupted from the crowd below the Plaza.
―Indeed. So it is Yeop Hwa, the vagrant swordsman!
―Even as a vagrant, his bearing rivals that of the Orthodox Sects’ renowned masters!
“How amusing.”
At that moment, Bu Eunseol looked down at Yeop Hwa with a cold smile.
“A man who scatters Dissipation Powder and Heel Venom calls himself a vagrant swordsman?”
In that instant, the smile vanished from Yeop Hwa’s face.
“I haven’t the faintest idea what you mean.”
“Each time our blades clashed, you subtly released your toxins. Your choice of scattered swordplay makes sense—it’s easiest to disperse poison when blades strike together.”
Yeop Hwa’s complexion shifted dramatically.
His technique for secretly administering Dissipation Powder and Heel Venom was so refined that even professional assassins would fail to detect it.
Yet this young upstart, barely emerged into the Gangho, had completely seen through his methods?
“It seems there’s been a misunderstanding.”
The fortunate thing was that Bu Eunseol’s voice remained low enough that the spectators could not hear.
“Do you have evidence to support such claims?”
“Of course not. When toxins are secretly administered, only the poisoning symptoms remain—the poison itself evaporates.”
Bu Eunseol, having worked countless missions for the Guusal Unit, had used and endured poisons beyond measure.
I had already become as much an expert in toxins as any professional assassin.
“I see.”
Yeop Hwa, inwardly relieved by Bu Eunseol’s words, wore a cruel smile.
“As your position weakens, you fabricate accusations. Don’t waste time on baseless claims.”
‘Young fool. You know something of poisons, but your defenses came too late.’
“Shall we end this here?”
“Not a chance.”
“Then I’ll finish this with minimal injury to you.”
Yeop Hwa, concealing his cruel smile, swiftly unfurled his scattered swordplay.
He intended to unleash a vicious technique to end Bu Eunseol’s life before I could concede defeat and withdraw.
Whoosh!
The scattered blades engulfed Bu Eunseol’s body.
Normally, I would have escaped by unraveling the technique one strike at a time, but poisoned by Dissipation Powder and Heel Venom, my movements were sluggish.
“A blade knows no mercy!”
Just as Yeop Hwa narrowed his widely-spread sword technique into a sharp point to pierce Bu Eunseol’s vital meridian,
“Hmph.”
Bu Eunseol scoffed and suddenly deployed a movement technique, slipping to the side of Yeop Hwa’s incoming thrust like an arrow.
The speed of movement was like lightning—clearly not the state of one poisoned by Dissipation Powder and Heel Venom.
‘What?’
Yeop Hwa cried out silently in his heart.
Because Bu Eunseol had suddenly accelerated, Yeop Hwa had no choice but to pass by like a wild boar caught in a forest fire.
Shink.
At that moment, Bu Eunseol’s long sword, sheathed until now, was drawn like lightning.
And it came down like a thunderbolt upon Yeop Hwa’s body as he charged past.
Flash!
A cold gleam accompanied a crimson line that slashed diagonally across Yeop Hwa’s body.
Crack!
In that instant, Yeop Hwa’s body—which had been charging forward—split in two amid a spray of blood and collapsed to the ground.
“….”
Not even the sound of a needle dropping could be heard in the Plaza.
Yeop Hwa, the vagrant swordmaster of Donghyo Seorang and a figure of considerable renown throughout Guizhou, had fallen.
To think he would meet such a gruesome end—cleaved in two by a single blade stroke from an unknown youth.
“…The victor is Bu Eunseol, the Blade Maiden of Bu.”
Cho Mun Cheon, who had been frozen like stone, finally forced the words from his lips.
Yet the Plaza remained shrouded in a silence as profound as death itself.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————