The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 766
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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 766.
Geom Joon’s Natural Sword was strikingly similar to the goal Bu Eunseol pursued.
If I were to face Ma Cheon Je right now, I too would have employed techniques akin to the Natural Sword.
“There truly is no other path.”
My goal was not to ascend to the ultimate and boundless realm.
Rather, it was to drag down masters who wielded divine martial arts to the ground.
And Geom Joon had proven through his own body that such a thing was not impossible.
He had demonstrated that the mysteries of the Natural Sword could be the answer.
“The path begins to reveal itself, piece by piece.”
Geom Joon’s Natural Sword had transcended the Formless Sword Way and was approaching the Path of Heaven and Man.
And the path he pursued was not the destruction of any form, but rather the transformation of all things into their natural state.
Through the Natural Sword, the way to reach that place had begun to manifest.
“If I could make all things complete and whole…”
I clenched my fists tightly.
If I could do that.
Then I would surely be able to topple Ma Cheon Je, that absolute transcendent who seemed never to fall.
* * *
With Bu Eunseol’s departure, Seung Sa Do was wrapped in silence.
Even the sounds of nature had ceased, and the area around Seung Sa Do appeared like a space severed from the world.
Whoosh.
Then, a figure emerged alongside a crimson radiance.
It was Jeok Bung, the first to depart from Seung Sa Do.
Swish.
He gazed for a long while at the collapsed Rocky Mountain.
Then his gaze suddenly fixed upon the spot where Ma Cheon Je had stood.
Flash!
Brilliant radiance bloomed in his eyes. He had discovered definitive evidence to prove his suspicion.
He walked to where Ma Cheon Je had been and examined the spot once more.
“Hehehehe.”
Jeok Bung, who had been laughing softly, suddenly burst into raucous laughter.
“Hahaha!”
After laughing heartily toward the heavens for a long time, Jeok Bung abruptly ceased and spoke coldly.
“So he had not reached the realm of perfect flawlessness?”
At the spot where his gaze was fixed,
There remained traces invisible to the human eye—traces of Ma Cheon Je deploying his divine technique.
“He was wounded.”
Jeok Bung’s lips curved into a cold smile.
Masters of the Transcendent Realm like Ma Cheon Je possessed superhuman equilibrium, which never faltered.
Yet the footprints Ma Cheon Je left after deploying his divine technique showed an ever-so-slight disruption in balance.
“That is why he did not dispose of Bul Jon.”
Jeok Bung knew a secret about Ma Cheon Je that others did not.
He regarded Bul Jon as a thorn in his side and had attempted to strike him down whenever the opportunity arose.
This time, Bul Jon had come to Seung Sa Do alone, and there was only one Orthodox Sect member present.
It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to eliminate him.
Yet Ma Cheon Je had leisurely killed Geom Joon and then simply watched as Bul Jon collected his corpse before departing.
If he struck Bul Jon, his injuries would be exposed. Even though Samma was of the Demonic Path, they could strike him down at any moment.
‘Moreover, he did not even face Bul Jon directly.’
If their gazes had met, he might have lost control of his murderous intent and struck Bul Jon down immediately.
So he deliberately avoided looking into his eyes.
Jeok Bung, who had left Seung Sa Do first,
later sensed something amiss and returned to Seung Sa Do to analyze Ma Cheon Je’s traces.
And as expected, Ma Cheon Je had sustained considerable internal injuries.
“Not bad. Not bad at all.”
Jeok Bung’s eyes gleamed as he gazed toward the distant sky.
“There is potential here.”
Murmuring contentedly,
he vanished in an instant
along with a crimson radiance.
But not long after he departed,
a sound of compressed air echoed from the distant sky.
With a sharp crack, a faint shadow formed over Seung Sa Do.
It was none other than Hyun Ma and Wi Ji Moo Ah.
They walked slowly.
He too spent considerable time wandering around Seung Sa Do, examining various locations.
Then, upon discovering traces of Jeok Bung’s return, he wore a bitter smile.
“Indeed, old ginger is always the spiciest.”
Wi Ji Moo Ah had also sensed the anomaly belatedly and returned to Seung Sa Do.
While concentrating on the confrontation between Ma Cheon Je and Geom Joon, he had continuously felt a sense of discord.
Remarkably, Wi Ji Moo Ah as well
had sensed some inexplicable subtle presence lurking at Seung Sa Do.
But that presence had blended perfectly with the surrounding environment like air itself, making its exact location impossible to pinpoint.
If he could sense it, there was no way Ma Cheon Je would have missed it.
He had intended to return later and verify how Ma Cheon Je had dealt with it.
“Curious. Jeok Bung—has he surpassed my perception?”
Wi Ji Moo Ah mistakenly believed that Jeok Bung, like himself,
had returned to the now-empty Seung Sa Do to identify some presence whose aura he could not locate.
“Hmm.”
Yet as Wi Ji Moo Ah traced Jeok Bung’s movements, he released a deep sigh.
He had discovered traces of Ma Cheon Je employing a divine technique.
“So that was it.”
Geom Joon’s Natural Sword possessed transcendent power that even Wi Ji Moo Ah could only admire.
Yet Ma Cheon Je, with his terrifying demonic cultivation, saw through every weakness.
Using the enemy’s spear to pierce the enemy’s shield—through this stratagem, he effortlessly brought Geom Joon down.
However, that was merely what the eye perceived; in truth, Ma Cheon Je had suffered grave internal injuries from the momentum of the Natural Sword.
“Who shall seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?”
Wi Ji Moo Ah’s voice, which had been murmuring low, grew thin.
Ma Cheon Je, who had long maintained his invincibility, had now sustained severe wounds—the future could no longer be predicted.
A flash of light.
Leaving a trail of brilliance, he unfolded his divine movement technique and vanished into the distant sky in a single breath.
* * *
―Ma Cheon Je had defeated Geom Joon!
The result of the final confrontation between Ma Cheon Je and Geom Joon
had finally reached the Murim.
Geom Joon, who had attained enlightenment in his twilight years and achieved sudden martial advancement, finally completing his long-cherished Natural Sword,
had confidently challenged Ma Cheon Je, only to meet defeat in the end.
This truth was revealed by Bul Jon, who had recovered Geom Joon’s corpse.
And Geom Joon’s remains were enshrined with unprecedented honor at Shaolin, which ordinarily accepted no outsiders.
As this news spread,
numerous leaders of the Orthodox Sects lamented the passing of a great star in the Murim and journeyed to Shaolin to pay their respects.
―Ma Cheon Je. Is he truly an invincible superhuman?
Once again, this confrontation proved Ma Cheon Je’s supremacy.
Since his emergence in the Murim, he had never suffered defeat—the undefeated great demon lord, the sky of the Demonic Path.
The only one to achieve a draw with him was the sky of the Orthodox Sects, known to have reached the pinnacle of righteous doctrine,
Jeong Cheon Je Sin Do Mu Bi.
Conversely, if even Jeong Pa Je Il In, the foremost of the Orthodox Sects, could not defeat Ma Cheon Je, then he was effectively invincible.
―Was the once-balanced advantage beginning to crumble?
The Orthodox Sect practitioners’ anxieties deepened at this outcome.
While Jeong Cheon Je continued his repeated seclusion training, Ma Cheon Je no longer entered seclusion.
This meant that by now, the gap between them had widened.
And one could only conclude that Jeong Cheon Je, aware of this disparity, persisted in his seclusion training.
Yet astonishing rumors soon began to circulate.
―Ma Cheon Je had also sustained grave injuries in this final confrontation.
Though he had won the battle,
it was revealed that he had suffered deep internal injuries from the Natural Sword created by Chang An.
―The Natural Sword that Geom Joon had cultivated possessed the power to return all things to their complete and natural state. Through this, Ma Cheon Je had ultimately suffered grave internal injuries.
Even as such rumors spread,
the people could not believe them.
They could not easily accept that the invincible great demon lord had been wounded.
But when it was revealed that the source of these rumors
was none other than Bul Jon, who had witnessed the final confrontation,
The Murim practitioners’ eyes blazed with fervent fire.
―Could they now kill the First of the Demonic Path?
Masters like Ma Cheon Je who had reached the pinnacle of cultivation rarely sustained injuries.
Even when wounded, they recovered swiftly.
Having transcended the constraints of flesh, they possessed regenerative abilities that defied human limitation.
Yet exposed to Geom Joon’s Natural Sword—which restored all things to their natural state—that recovery could not manifest.
He had become an ordinary body, no different from any common person.
In other words, now…
The absolute master called the Sky of the Demonic Path could be slain.
As such rumors spread,
Ma Cheon Je took an unexpected action instead.
Without a single escort, he began to wander the Gangho alone.
The world could not comprehend it.
When he should have remained in seclusion to prevent his wounds from worsening,
even though it was now known he had suffered grave internal injuries from the Natural Sword,
to wander the Gangho alone?
―Could it be a lie?
The Murim practitioners fell into confusion.
Was Ma Cheon Je performing an act to conceal his injuries?
Or had he laid a trap to draw out those who sought his life?
―A clever move. To prevent Jeong Cheon Je from stepping forward.
The Murim Alliance offered such an opinion.
Since Ma Cheon Je had not refuted Bul Jon’s words, it was tantamount to admitting his injury.
If Jeong Cheon Je were to challenge him in this situation?
He would have no choice but to forfeit.
By revealing his injury to all under heaven, he had prevented Jeong Cheon Je from daring to challenge him.
―That cannot be.
Yet most Murim practitioners responded skeptically to the Murim Alliance’s theory.
Ma Cheon Je is Ma Cheon Je.
He is one who holds himself in high and great regard.
Had he feared Jeong Cheon Je’s challenge because of an injury?
He would never have earned the name Ma Cheon Je in the first place, and would have been cast out from the Demon Hall long ago.
―What scheme is he orchestrating?
Ma Cheon Je, who had thrown the Murim into chaos with merely an injury.
What was he truly doing? What was he aiming for?
Yet the world did not know.
An entirely unexpected figure
had challenged Ma Cheon Je, who wandered the Murim bearing grave internal wounds.
* * *
A cloudless azure sky stretched overhead, and beneath the warm sunlight, a gentle mountain breeze drifted.
Savoring the pleasant weather, an elderly man of advanced years walked slowly down Gwan Do.
He possessed an ordinary appearance commonly seen near the Village Entrance, with a frame that was hardly imposing.
Yet his posture remained ramrod straight, and his gaze was as still as a lake.
Moreover, he displayed no emotion whatsoever—neither joy nor anger, neither sorrow nor delight.
Tap, tap.
The old man’s stride was measured as if drawn with a ruler.
As though walking upon smooth glass, each footfall upon the solid surface echoed with crystalline clarity.
What was even more peculiar was that despite his lengthy walk, not a single person—not even an ant—could be seen.
For such a bustling city as Seong Do to be utterly devoid of people was utterly impossible.
Had a martial artist of exceptional insight been present, they would surely have deduced that some faction had mobilized personnel to seal off Gwan Do.
Yet the old man paid no heed to the desolate landscape, walking onward with an impassive expression.
With each step, the world grew quieter, until only the sound of his footfalls echoed across all directions.
Chirp, chirp.
Before long, the old man arrived at a dense Forest where the sounds of insects reverberated.
Green leaves swayed in the breeze, evoking the unmistakable atmosphere of spring.
The old man’s eyes, as he gazed upon the surrounding landscape, suddenly grew serene.
The cool wind, the trembling branches, the fragments of light glimpsed between them…
Within every scene visible to the eye,
there lay its own principles and truths.
The old man, observing the natural world unfolding before him, was comprehending the transcendent principles of martial arts.
“Ah, so that is how it was.”
And as if grasping something profound, he nodded repeatedly.
Through the expanding enlightenment, the old man’s mind maintained an infinitely tranquil state,
while simultaneously an endless stream of thought continued to flow.
“The path to enlightenment is arduous, and the path to actualizing that enlightenment is far more treacherous.”
The old man’s name was Mu Myeong.
It was not his birth name, but rather one he had chosen for himself.
Mu Myeong signified a state of ignorance—the failure to comprehend the truths of the universe.
That is, a state wherein reality becomes distorted, the mind grows confused, and desire and attachment perpetually arise.
And he wished not for himself, but for all people in the world to exist in this state of ignorance.
“For even should one awaken to true principles, if one cannot cast off desire, one ultimately fails to actualize them.”
The old man, who had been murmuring softly, suddenly ceased his advance.
In that instant, the serene tranquility that had pervaded the Forest vanished without a trace,
and the surroundings abruptly transformed into a landscape carved by blades—harsh and perilous, an ominous atmosphere spreading outward.
Thud, thud.
Simultaneously, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed from somewhere.
Unlike the old man’s crisp, measured tread upon solid ground,
these footfalls were nonetheless extraordinarily distinct, causing the earth itself to tremble.
Whoosh.
At last, a robust middle-aged man clad in white garments embroidered with ornate patterns emerged before the old man.
Each flutter of his eyes seemed to flash with lightning, and his piercing gaze appeared to pierce through all things.
A crisp sound echoed.
The middle-aged man in white immediately clasped his hands respectfully upon encountering the old man.
“Murim Alliance, Wanderer Leader of the Divine Position, Baek In Cheong.”
From the eyes of the middle-aged man who raised his gaze, a crystalline aura spread outward.
“I offer my respects to Ma Cheon Je.”
The old man who had been walking ordinarily was Ma Cheon Je.
He was none other than Sa Do Moo Myung.
And the middle-aged man who suddenly appeared was precisely Baek In Cheong, the Wanderer Leader of the Divine Position in the Murim Alliance.
Ma Cheon Je merely wandered through the Murim alone, yet through this, the Orthodox Sects were being toyed with.
Because no one existed who could block his path.
―Could the Orthodox Sects truly not produce anyone capable of defeating even an injured Ma Cheon Je?
As such whispers continued endlessly throughout the Murim, Baek In Cheong finally steeled his resolve and stepped into Ma Cheon Je’s path.
“In the end, you could not cast aside your desires.”
Ma Cheon Je gazed at Baek In Cheong and smiled faintly.
In his eyes, Baek In Cheong was merely
one who knew the truth,
yet could not restrain his desires, ultimately making a foolish choice—nothing more than an ignorant sentient being.
“I do not understand your meaning.”
“For these past days, you have made the back of my head burn with heat. Have your calculations been completed?”
As Ma Cheon Je laughed, Baek In Cheong’s eyes wavered slightly.
In truth, he had not challenged on impulse. Since Ma Cheon Je appeared in the Murim, he had relentlessly followed and observed him.
And finally, he had confirmed that Ma Cheon Je was indeed suffering from grave injuries.
Such a master could not maintain perfect equilibrium, and his gait trembled microscopically.
Had he not detected the injury, he would never have dared block Ma Cheon Je’s path.
“This Leader…”
Baek In Cheong attempted to make excuses.
But Ma Cheon Je waved his hand dismissively.
“I accept.”
“Truly?”
“Indeed. There is no need for lengthy words. Let us begin at once.”
Baek In Cheong’s eyebrows twitched.
It was true that he had come to challenge Ma Cheon Je.
Yet he could not speak easily because… Ma Cheon Je was truly injured,
and the condition was extremely grave.
Therefore, he had believed Ma Cheon Je would certainly avoid the confrontation by any means necessary.
But to accept without hesitation?
‘The Infinite Realm can only be used once more in this state.’
Baek In Cheong, who had meticulously grasped and calculated Ma Cheon Je’s physical condition all this time, nodded faintly.
“Then it is well.”
If I can merely block the single outpouring of Ma Cheon Je’s Mujik power…
I can topple the foremost master of the Demonic Path, who has plunged the Murim into terror for decades.
Of course, even if I fail to block the Mujik power… I have concealed a final trump card that will absolutely allow me to bring him down.
Whiiiing.
A fierce wind swept across, sending pale dust spiraling in its wake.
Sling.
Baek In Cheong drew forth the Cheonghae Sword from his waist.
His blade was no ordinary longsword—it spread wide like a fan.
The Cheonghae Sword.
It was not a single weapon, but rather a fusion of five ancient primordial blades.
Though it appeared crude and unwieldy to the eye, when wielded, it became the most fearsome weapon under heaven.
Like a Black Divine Artifact, it was a mystical weapon capable of unleashing terrifying power through the blade itself alone.
“Be vigilant!”
With a thunderous command, Baek In Cheong unhesitatingly unfurled his sword technique.
Though his opponent was the foremost master of the Demonic Path, he himself stood among the supreme elite of the realm.
Moreover, he had manifested the Mujik Pinnacle long ago and was preparing to enter the Mujik Scripture.
Had it been otherwise, even if Ma Cheon Je suffered not merely grave internal wounds but the severing of his limbs…
He would never have dared to challenge him directly.
“How can one savor death when one does not even comprehend what life is?”
With an inscrutable sigh, Ma Cheon Je raised his hand lightly.
In that instant, the sword technique Baek In Cheong had unleashed dissolved like mist.
Whoosh!
Yet he, as if anticipating such a turn, remained unperturbed and swung the Cheonghae Sword at tremendous speed.
Brilliant flashes erupted, and the very light of heaven and earth turned white, when…
A spear-shaped sword aura pierced toward Ma Cheon Je’s brow.
It was the profound technique of the Cheongeok Sword, one of the five ancient primordial blades affixed to the Cheonghae Sword.
Crack!
Its speed was beyond description—so swift that the moment light poured forth, it had already embedded itself in Ma Cheon Je’s brow.
Zing.
In that instant, transparent light flowed from Ma Cheon Je’s body, and simultaneously, the sword aura piercing his brow shattered into hundreds of luminous points, scattering in all directions.
‘So that is Wave Reflection.’
As befitted the Wanderer Leader of the Murim Alliance’s Seven Great Units, Baek In Cheong recognized Ma Cheon Je’s signature technique—the moment he perceived everything his opponent unleashed.
He altered its very nature in an instant. He was well aware of Ma Cheon Je’s Mujik power: Wave Reflection.
‘I can win.’
A smile graced Baek In Cheong’s lips.
He had prepared meticulous stratagems to topple Ma Cheon Je. If the plan unfolded as designed, he would absolutely bring him down.
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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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