The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 748
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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 748.
The Jung Sun Ga had managed to preserve their lineage without ever revealing their Main Base, thanks to a secret technique called the Absolute Boundary.
Sects that practiced mystical arts possessed similar forbidden methods.
However, deploying such techniques required vast amounts of time, manpower, and countless tools.
Yet the Jung Sun Ga could create the Absolute Boundary with ease and freedom.
This was why, despite establishing themselves in the most prosperous city of Seong Do,
no one could ever pinpoint the Jung Sun Ga’s location.
“I’ve made a reservation at the Separate Annex.”
The Oksoo Inn.
A modest inn situated on the outskirts of Seong Do,
its interior furnishings were dilapidated, and its exorbitant rates for food and lodging meant
that even uninformed travelers and passing guests avoided the place entirely.
Yet someone had rented the inn’s Separate Annex in its entirety.
It was Shin San Ja. Or rather, Mu Jon.
“A shame, but it cannot be helped.”
Mu Jon, having entered the Study Room of the Separate Annex, withdrew a single luminous jade from his robes.
It contained the power of Cheon Gwae Sung, one of the Baek Pal Sung, granting it the ability to nullify all supernatural forces.
A soft whisper echoed through the air.
As the luminous jade crumbled to dust and scattered,
the walls within the Study Room began to dissolve like flower petals, and a massive doorway materialized on one side.
This was the entrance that led to the Jung Sun Ga.
‘This certainly cannot be their Main Base.’
If this were the true entrance to the Jung Sun Ga, a single luminous jade would not be sufficient to shatter the Absolute Boundary.
This place was likely nothing more than a branch the Jung Sun Ga had established within Murim.
‘I wonder how many such locations they have created.’
Mu Jon swallowed his thoughts and stepped into the entrance, surrounded by radiant light.
Within the white luminescence, a shadow formed in the shape of a figure.
“Shin San Ja.”
The shadow spoke in an ominous voice, clearly recognizing his identity.
“You didn’t come here seeking death. So why have you crawled your way in here?”
“I’ve come to share information you desire.”
As Mu Jon replied in an utterly composed tone, the shadow spoke coldly.
“Have you found the whereabouts of Cheon Ki Sung?”
Cheon Ki Sung.
A divine being of wisdom capable of altering the very fate of the world itself, and one of the Baek Pal Sung the Jung Sun Ga had ceaselessly sought.
“That is not the case.”
Shin San Ja shook his head as he spoke.
“I’ve come to reveal the identity of the one who interfered with our affairs at Seo Ryeong San.”
“And who might that be?”
“The Sword King, Seon Woo Jin.”
Shin San Ja spoke in a low voice.
“He rescued Man Wol.”
“Is this certain information?”
“It comes from the upper echelons of the Murim Alliance. I would stake No Bu’s head on it.”
The surface of the black shadow rippled.
“Surely she hasn’t obtained another key…”
Realizing he had misspoken, Shadow waved his hand dismissively.
“What do you want?”
“The Gyeongseong Jade. Thirty-six of them.”
Thunk.
Three transparent orbs were placed at Shin San Ja’s feet.
“That’s far too few.”
“I could reduce it to two.”
Mu Jon smacked his lips regretfully as he tucked the Gyeongseong Jade into his robes.
“There’s no helping it.”
Then he slowly turned his body.
“Take care of yourself.”
Shadow stared intently at Shin San Ja’s departing figure.
“Attempting to manipulate the Main House under the guise of being a sage.”
Shadow spoke in an utterly sinister voice.
“I’ll kill that young fool, and soon enough, I’ll kill you too.”
* * *
Returning to the study room, Mu Jon’s face appeared utterly exhausted.
The Jung Sun Ga’s absolute realm was a kind of mental world they had created.
Not only could it block inner energy, but it was also consuming the mental strength of anyone who entered that domain at an alarming rate.
“If they move with deliberate intent, the power of the Baek Ri Family will manifest.”
Recalling Bu Eunseol’s face, Mu Jon wore a faint smile.
“If she falls into danger because of this, I will help her. That way, some of the suspicion directed at me could also be dispelled.”
Since ancient times, there has been only one way to win a person’s heart most swiftly.
Deliberately set a trap, then personally rescue them when they fall into it.
Mu Jon sought to manifest the power of the Baek Ri Family residing within Bu Eunseol’s body as quickly as possible.
While simultaneously earning her trust.
“By now, she should have headed toward Xian Prefecture.”
In fact, Bu Eunseol had made one oversight during all this time.
Having grown accustomed to moving about the Murim Alliance,
She had momentarily forgotten that besides Mu Gyeol, there was one other person who knew the true identity of Seon Woo Jin.
* * *
―From now on, we must change the training method and gradually raise barriers not only of martial prowess but also of spiritual strength.
Meanwhile, Bu Eunseol, having dealt with the Evil Spirits summoner In Bi In, issued orders to the Lords.
Due to this incident, those who had long remained hidden
I realized that the Abyss Forces had already taken root and were operating throughout Zhong Yuan.
There was no way to know when or where they might emerge next.
Especially since the Lords often carried out missions independently, it was absolutely necessary to elevate their martial prowess.
‘All the Lords have reached the Transcendent Realm.’
Yu Woon Ryong and Myo Cheon Woo had already entered the Transcendent Realm when they first came to Sayoung Hall.
Afterward, Wi Cheon Gyeong also stepped into the Transcendent Realm.
Following them, Won Se Moon and Jo Nam Cheon were also on the verge of entering the Transcendent Realm thanks to their grueling training.
However, I no longer placed great significance on martial cultivation years or realms.
Victory and defeat were not determined by ranking martial arts.
Matchups could determine the outcome, and through improvisation suited to the situation, one could seize victory even against a master of superior skill.
For the Lords of Sayoung Hall, there was something more important than advancing their martial power.
It was the cultivation of an unshakeable spirit that could not crumble under any circumstance.
The formidable enemies that had appeared so far relied more on bizarre techniques than on martial arts.
Therefore, training that could fortify their spirits was necessary.
But the cultivation of the mind was something that…
Only those at the level of Yu Woon Ryong and Myo Cheon Woo, standing at the edge of the Transcendent Realm, could accomplish.
―How can we construct a barrier for the spirit?
I conducted a meeting with the Lords on this very matter.
And one conclusion emerged.
―It would be possible if they fought against masters one step above them who possessed similar specialties.
The three Lords approaching the Transcendent Realm had not yet clearly understood their own limits and strengths.
Moreover, what if their specialty proved ineffective against their opponent?
Or what if the opponent’s technique possessed a matchup that sealed their specialty?
Ordinary masters would feel despair.
But fighting such an opponent would be highly effective in identifying the limits of their martial prowess.
It would become a very effective method for creating a spirit that could not crumble under any circumstance.
“I will personally select the opponents and then observe those matches.”
“You’re busy enough without worrying about that.”
At that moment, Myo Cheon Woo, who had been quietly listening to my words, spoke.
“I’ll handle that myself, so don’t worry about it and just consider it taken care of.”
“Can you manage it?”
“While I was out in Gangho, I did sparring matches more than anything else, though not as much as you.”
Myo Cheon Woo wore a confident smile.
“I’ll conduct thorough sparring matches to make those fellows take one more great leap forward.”
“Hmm.”
“Don’t worry. I may not know anything else, but I know everything about those guys—whether their shit comes out square or round.”
In the early days of Sayoung Hall.
It was Myo Cheon Woo who, under my command, cultivated the martial arts of the three Lords.
Won Se Moon specialized in the exhilarating demonic sword technique using dual blades, and Wi Cheon Gyeong in the Lightness Skill.
Jo Nam Cheon specialized in the Black Poison Demonic Art, which transformed the body into steel.
Myo Cheon Woo assessed their innate temperament, physique, and constitution, enabling them to achieve one more breakthrough.
He honed their martial arts through practical sparring matches that mimicked real combat.
“Understood. Then I’ll entrust that matter to you.”
At Bu Eunseol’s words, Myo Cheon Woo smiled and nodded.
“Rest assured.”
* * *
The Annam Inn was situated near a picturesque lake and offered reasonably priced meals.
It always attracted a steady stream of patrons.
Especially during lunch hours when dining guests were abundant, it bustled far more than in the evenings.
Yet today, around midday, the interior of the Annam Inn was eerily silent—so quiet one could hear a pin drop.
This was due to a single figure seated in the very center of the establishment.
A man wearing a jet-black bamboo hat possessed a frame as massive as three grown adults combined.
His entire body bore countless scars beyond reckoning.
With each flicker of his pupils, a murderous aura emanated so intensely that merely approaching him felt like one’s flesh would be cleaved.
Gwang Baek—the Black Hat Fighting Ghost.
Typically, those who wielded swords earned titles incorporating the character for blade.
Yet he bore the character for “fighting,” which was usually appended to the names of martial artists specializing in unarmed combat.
This was because of his belligerent and brutal nature and methods.
And because he wielded a unique martial art that fused fist techniques with swordsmanship.
Moreover, he would pick fights with anyone whose gaze he merely caught.
Once combat commenced, he invariably slew his opponents with merciless cruelty.
Yet he was never branded a criminal.
This was because those he provoked were always martial artists of exceptional skill.
In the Murim, where death was commonplace,
one could not be prosecuted simply for fighting fellow martial artists or for employing vicious techniques.
In essence, Gwang Baek was a cunning Killing Ghost who perpetrated slaughter within the bounds of what Gangho tolerated.
A shudder ran through the room.
The martial artists who recognized Gwang Baek averted their gazes, fearful their eyes might meet his.
He was known to be obsessed with combat, and once a fight began, he would either beat his opponent to death or slice them with his blade.
A chance meeting of eyes could trigger him to pick a quarrel.
“Hmph.”
Gwang Baek, observing the fearful glances of those around him, smiled with satisfaction before promptly raising a wine bottle to his lips.
In truth, he possessed one more special ability.
He possessed a remarkable talent for discerning those whose martial prowess exceeded his own.
Therefore, wherever he went, he first surveyed his surroundings and never provoked anyone stronger than himself.
By fighting only opponents he could defeat, he had become an undefeated Fighting Ghost.
Footsteps echoed.
Just then, a man entered the inn.
He had a compact, muscular frame and stubble that jutted out like a porcupine’s quills.
He resembled the very incarnation of a legendary warrior.
“Is your face a blank canvas? Why have you scrawled all over it like that?”
The man glanced at Gwang Baek, then muttered with a contemptuous expression.
“Always the ones lacking confidence in martial arts who tattoo themselves up.”
When Gwang Baek’s eyes widened and he shot a glare, the man chuckled and muttered again.
“Brat. You’re easy to provoke.”
Then, with an indifferent expression, he climbed toward the private quarters on this floor.
Crash!
In that instant, the wine bottle clutched in Gwang Baek’s hand shattered into fragments and scattered like powder.
His forehead, with eyes wide open, was marked by earthworm-like veins standing taut.
“His audacity knows no bounds.”
Gwang Baek shot to his feet.
Unlike now, when he fought only those weaker than himself.
For five years after first entering the Gangho, he had sought out formidable opponents and engaged in genuine martial exchanges.
Through that process, he had sustained countless wounds.
The scars etched upon his body were not mere injuries—they were the history of his life, medals of honor.
Yet how dare that dark-skinned pig deny and insult his past?
Thump, thump.
Gwang Baek, his eyes gleaming with pale killing intent, walked toward the man seated in the corner.
As his seven-foot frame, muscular and imposing, approached slowly, the Inn seemed to darken.
“What did you say?”
Gwang Baek looked down at the Black-Robed Man with supreme confidence.
His instincts had already analyzed his opponent.
That man was not stronger than him.
Had that man been even slightly superior in strength? His razor-sharp instincts would have immediately suppressed the erupting rage.
“You’re not even a Jeomsoi—why have you crawled all the way here?”
But the Black-Robed Man frowned and waved his hand dismissively.
“Look at your face. Doesn’t your village have a place to wash? Go clean yourself up.”
Gwang Baek stood dumbfounded, his mouth agape.
The Black-Robed Man scanned him from head to toe, then snapped irritably.
“Will you place an order or not?”
“What?”
“Or get out of the way. I’m busy.”
‘He just asked for a meal, that’s all.’
The man in red watching from afar narrowed his eyes.
He was Myo Cheon Woo.
‘At this rate, he’ll have no choice but to engage Gwang Baek in a life-or-death duel.’
The Black-Robed Man was Won Se Moon.
Myo Cheon Woo knew Won Se Moon’s temperament and martial characteristics all too well.
His opening moves lacked refinement, and he always identified flaws, relentlessly targeting only those weak points.
Because his specialty would not work, and he could frustrate the spirit of—
Rich in combat experience.
Against Gwang Baek, the master of Silent Corpse Devouring who grasped enemy weaknesses even better than Won Se Moon and struck accordingly, this choice had been made.
―Gwang Baek, though this man is cruel, he is a person of considerable standing, so reveal your identity beforehand and present the challenge letter respectfully.
Then, given the face of Bon Jeon, he will not pursue a fight to the death.
Even with Won Se Moon’s martial prowess greatly advanced, he remained a supreme master who had earned renown in Murim for over twenty years.
A situation incomparable to Gwang Baek.
Therefore, Myo Cheon Woo had personally written a letter and delivered it to him.
But Won Se Moon was now provoking Gwang Baek like some neighborhood Black Gang ruffian stirring up trouble.
「Won Se Moon.」
Myo Cheon Woo urgently sent a transmission of voice.
「First, get away from there. If you provoke him like that, this madman will go berserk and…」
But it was already too late.
Crack.
Gwang Baek’s eyes filled with blood vessels as true energy flames blazed across his entire body, and then—
Boom!
With a thunderous explosion, the Black-Robed Man, Won Se Moon, was sent flying through the Inn’s wall and out into the open.
Thud, thud, thud.
Gwang Baek emerged from the shattered wall, flexing his fist.
“How dare this bastard touch this elder’s beard…”
As he continued speaking, his eyes widened.
Ptui.
Won Se Moon spat out a clot of blood and let out a cold laugh, waving his hand dismissively.
“You talk too much, punk.”
In that instant, Gwang Baek’s eyes overflowed with pure killing intent.
Normally, even one as mad for battle as he would have inquired about the opponent’s background and confirmed there would be no repercussions.
But now, such thoughts did not occur to him at all.
“I will not grant you an easy death.”
Severing that pig’s neck would be far too merciful an end.
Crack, crack.
The sound of bones echoed from Gwang Baek’s fists.
He had resolved to beat that dark bastard to death with both fists.
“I will beat you to death!”
Gwang Baek’s fists erupted with flame.
His blade had never been sharpened for cutting; instead, he employed thrusting and sweeping techniques.
Now that Gwang Baek employed fist techniques, they became an art as sublime as swordplay itself.
Thud, thud, thud!
Won Se Moon countered with both fists, meeting him head-on.
‘This fellow?’
He had naturally expected him to draw the pair of blades on his back.
As Won Se Moon attacked with only his fists, Gwang Baek grew even more excited.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The two masters began exchanging blows at close range without yielding an inch.
With each punch thrown, a sickening sound of flesh tearing echoed through the air.
Both their faces became a bloody mess in an instant.
The onlookers watched with gaping mouths, their faces drained of color.
For a martial artist trained in the martial arts
to engage in a bare-knuckle brawl face-to-face was nearly unprecedented in Murim—a sight bordering on the miraculous.
‘What… what…?’
Myo Cheon Woo, watching from a distance, stood slack-jawed.
He had selected Gwang Baek to enhance his swordsmanship, yet here they were engaged in a bare-knuckle fight?
Moreover, Gwang Baek’s pride seemed wounded as well.
He too had not drawn his blade, as if testing who possessed the greater resilience.
He was meeting the assault head-on.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Won Se Moon was rough and crude by nature, and before meeting Bu Eunseol, he had relied on both blade and fist.
Gwang Baek, too, earned his epithet “Fist Ghost” for his love of combat, and his swordsmanship itself carried the characteristics of unarmed fighting.
When two such individuals refused to yield even a step and traded blows,
it was nothing short of brutal. Some spectators could not bear to watch the gruesome exchange and turned their faces away.
Crack!
Then, as they simultaneously struck each other’s faces,
Screech.
Both were driven back the same distance.
“Draw your weapon.”
Gwang Baek looked down at Won Se Moon with an arrogant expression.
“If you wish to live.”
“If I draw my blade, you will die.”
“Hahahaha!”
Gwang Baek laughed heartily, his eyes widening.
“Fine, I’ll match your pace.”
And so they resumed their bare-knuckle exchange.
In truth, Gwang Baek held the advantage from the start.
Possessing innate divine strength, his sword technique itself was rooted in the mysteries of bare-knuckle combat.
Though Won Se Moon possessed an inborn sense for battle, he could not overcome Gwang Baek, who had spent decades perfecting his fist arts.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Eventually, Won Se Moon took more blows, and his vision began to blur.
Then, a single person surfaced in his mind.
‘Ryeong Ju.’
Bu Eunseol had trained me harshly so that I could overcome any formidable opponent.
To lose to this wretch here would be a disgrace I could never face Ryeong Ju with.
‘But…’
If I drew my sword first, it would be no different than admitting defeat to Gwang Baek.
It was also a matter of pride—not as Won Se Moon, but as a Lord of the Sayoung Battle Division.
‘Ryeong Ju. How can I possibly….’
In that instant, Bu Eunseol’s explosive and brilliant sword technique flashed through his mind.
That technique transcended time and space, capable of cleaving any opponent in a single breath.
“Ha-shap!”
As Won Se Moon released his battle cry, waves of true energy rippled outward in all directions.
Simultaneously, he raised his hands behind his back and grasped his twin blades.
“Hahaha, so facing death has finally humbled that pitiful pride of yours?”
Gwang Baek, realizing at last that Won Se Moon was about to unleash his sword technique, placed his hand on the hilt of his beloved blade.
Zing.
But something strange occurred.
Time itself seemed to slow, and a crimson aura was surging from Won Se Moon’s body—or was it?
‘Meteor Crossing the Moon Technique?’
Myo Cheon Woo, watching from a distance, widened his eyes in shock.
Bu Eunseol’s exclusive sword art—the ultra-swift death-dealing technique that strikes the enemy’s eyes first. The Meteor Crossing the Moon Technique.
Could Won Se Moon have somehow grasped it in that brief interval?
Boom!
But something strange happened.
He had expected a terrifying swift blade technique to erupt.
Instead, Won Se Moon’s massive body shot forward like a thunderbolt—not his blade, but his entire frame.
“Huh?”
Gwang Baek, who had been waiting for Won Se Moon to draw his twin blades,
Smash!
was suddenly struck full in the face by Won Se Moon’s head, which had rocketed forward like a cannon.
Crack.
With a vicious sound of impact, Gwang Baek’s face caved inward.
Trembling.
Though he remained standing through sheer force of will, his face was already so mangled it was unrecognizable.
“I….”
When he opened his mouth, his missing front teeth were plainly visible.
“What is this.”
To Gwang Baek’s question, Won Se Moon answered with a proud expression, crossing his arms.
“The Facial Crossing the Moon Technique.”
He had drawn inspiration from Bu Eunseol’s Meteor Crossing the Moon Technique and devised a method of launching his entire body like a cannon.
“…What nonsense is this.”
Gwang Baek spoke those words and promptly lost consciousness.
Though not a Killing Ghost, he had struck terror into the hearts of Murim warriors—the Silent Stepping Demon, Gwang Baek, had finally been defeated.
Moreover, he had gone down like a common street thug from a single headbutt…
Such humiliation meant he would never again be able to show his face in Murim.
‘Hmm.’
Myo Cheon Woo, watching from a distance, pressed his forehead with a melancholic expression.
He had painstakingly sought out a formidable opponent capable of advancing his sword technique, only for the battle to devolve into a brawl before ending in victory through a surprise headbutt?
‘This isn’t the scenario I envisioned.’
Myo Cheon Woo shook his head with a dejected look.
His plan to strengthen Won Se Moon’s martial prowess and temper his spirit through combat with the Killing Ghost had ultimately failed.
‘No, it’s fine.’
He nodded to himself.
‘Wi Cheon Gyeong—he’s here.’
Jo Nam Cheon… was somewhat unreliable.
Wi Cheon Gyeong possessed exceptional talent, divine technique, and even admirable character—a true gem among men.
Through the battle he had orchestrated, Wi Cheon Gyeong would surely achieve a breakthrough.
“Hehehehe.”
Myo Cheon Woo turned away with a low chuckle.
Unable to even imagine the strange and wondrous events that would unfold ahead.
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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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