The Patriarch of the Northern Heavens - Chapter 69

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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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Master of the Bukcheon Sword Family – Chapter 69

-Asura Demon?
‘Yes. Literally a master obsessed with combat, like the legendary Asura.’
-What kind of person earns such a sinister epithet?
‘He charges at anyone who appears strong without discrimination—whether they’re weaker or stronger than him. Whenever there’s a fight, he rushes toward it and creates absolute chaos. That’s how he earned the name.’
-Sounds like a madman.
‘Yes. A lunatic.’
My assessment was no exaggeration.
Wi Ji-hon had earned a reputation as half-crazed.
The Martial Alliance had even issued a bounty on him because of how severe his condition was.
-And then?
‘Asura Demon simply fought those who came to capture him, as if it were the right thing to do.’
-Hmph.
After that, he merely repeated his usual pattern.
Whenever he spotted someone strong, he’d charge in to test his martial prowess, and if satisfied, he’d leave on a whim.
A man whose reputation as a combat-crazed lunatic was entirely accurate.
That was Asura Demon Wi Ji-hon. His behavior was so bizarre that I knew of him well.
-How is this bastard still alive? His personality seems perfect for dying in some random place.
‘Despite severing ties with his clan, he carries the Wi Ji Family name as his backing, and his martial skill has reached the pinnacle of transcendence. While not quite at the level of the Thirteen Venerables, there are few masters in all the martial world capable of defeating Asura Demon.’
-So he’s genuinely skilled.
I nodded at the Sword Spirit’s words and observed Wi Ji-hon.
Wi Ji-hon grinned widely as he looked at me.
“Why the expression? You seem quite surprised.”
“Not at all. I simply cannot believe that the renowned Wi Ji Grand Master would seek me out.”
In my first life, I had never encountered Asura Demon.
I had never built enough skill or reputation to warrant his attention, and besides…
A few years from now, Asura Demon would vanish without a trace.
Some claimed he eventually fought a master he couldn’t handle and died, but the truth remained unknown to all.
Based on his nature alone, I could only speculate that was the case.
In any case.
“Coming all this way suggests you wish to test yourself against me?”
“Ahahaha! You catch on quick. That’s exactly right.”
“I am far inferior to you, Senior. Yet you would cross blades with this junior?”
“Heh. Why not? Weak or strong, there’s enjoyment to be had either way.”
“Then I accept. Let us cross blades.”
“Ho?”
Wi Ji-hon’s expression shifted slightly in surprise.
“You accept without hesitation. Unexpected.”
“If you won’t accept, I’ll just keep pestering you until you do.”
“Ahahaha! Well, that’s true enough.”
“So I thought it best to finish this as quickly as possible. Besides….”
*Shing.*
I drew my sword and assumed a ready stance.
“I’ve been wanting to test how well I measure up against a master like you, Senior.”
“Now here’s an entertaining fellow.”
Wi Ji-hon’s eyes gleamed with interest.
He laughed with satisfaction and unsheathed his saber.
“Excellent. Then let’s have at it!”
*Screeeech!*
There was no courtesy here—no master giving a novice three moves of handicap.
I saw his casual saber strike and immediately stepped into the Windgod’s Stride.
Moving left with the gentle breeze, I evaded, then reversed my blade to counterattack.
“Ahahaha!”
But Wi Ji-hon’s saber curved back immediately, pursuing me to strike.
I had no choice but to abandon my attack and shift to defense.
*Crash!*
My body slid back slightly from the impact, a tingling pain shooting up my wrists.
“Incredible speed. No wonder your epithet includes the word ‘Gale.'”
“Thank you for the praise. Then allow me to show you more.”
I had no intention of holding back.
My opponent was objectively far above me in strength.
So going all out from the start was the only sensible choice.
*Whiiiing!*
The Bukcheon Divine Art and the Vajra Yaksha Divine Art surged forth, wrapping me in golden wind.
Simultaneously, the Yaksha Transformation unfolded.
My momentum exploded into something entirely different.
Even Wi Ji-hon’s eyes changed.
I unleashed the Gale Cyclone Slash technique.
*Crash-crash-crash-crash-bang!*
Each time sword and saber met, a terrifying sound echoed out.
*Crackle-crackle-crackle!*
The ground beneath us fractured and shattered from the shockwaves.
Yet we continued moving and clashing our weapons despite the unstable footing.
“Ahahaha! I’m glad I came looking for you. I’d heard you were strong, but you exceed the rumors!”
Wi Ji-hon laughed with delight, his eyes blazing.
“Then I must enjoy this properly as well!”
*Whoooosh!*
Flames erupted from his body.
I instinctively retreated, startled by the aura emanating from him. The Buddhist energy I sensed was strangely familiar.
“Senior, that power—!?”
“Curious, are you? Well, this isn’t the martial technique of the Wi Ji Family, so I suppose it’s natural.”
Wi Ji-hon chuckled softly, his gaze fixed upon me.
“But surely you’ve already deduced it? That this is the same type of martial technique you’ve mastered.”
“The same type of martial technique…?”
“I never expected to find someone who had mastered the Vajra Asura Divine Scripture. Perhaps this too is fate.”
“You know of the Vajra Asura Divine Art…?”
“Yes. I have inherited the martial techniques of the Wisdom King.”
“…!”
I could only gape in astonishment.
He had inherited the martial techniques of the Wisdom King?
Then those flames were surely…
“You’ve mastered the Immovable Wisdom King Heart Technique?”
“Indeed.”
“Hah…”
This was information I had no knowledge of whatsoever.
I never could have imagined that the mad asura in that battle had mastered the same Esoteric Buddhism protective techniques as I had.
And of all things, the Immovable Wisdom King Heart Technique?
Moreover, it was clear he had cultivated it to a considerable level.
‘Wait a moment.’
So was he really just picking fights with stronger-looking people while wielding the Immovable Heart?
‘This man is truly insane.’
As I was thinking this,
the asura, wreathed in flames across his entire body, grinned wickedly and charged at me.
“Hyaaah!”
A piercing thrust far more vicious than before came hurtling toward me.
I gasped in alarm and raised my blade to deflect his weapon.
Screeeech!
The blade of the Windgod Sword deflected his weapon, producing an ear-splitting metallic shriek.
But Wi Ji-hon seemed utterly unbothered, immediately following through with a spinning back kick.
Boom-crash-bang!
I managed to cross my arms to block, but the force was absolutely tremendous.
The impact sent my body flying backward, tumbling across the ground several times.
“M-Master!”
Unable to bear watching any longer,
Sa Gong-cheon, who had been observing the situation, drew his blade and stepped in front of me.
Wi Ji-hon’s eyes lit up with amusement at the sight, and a smile spread across his face.
“Ah, so this one is your guard, is he? If you wish to enjoy yourself as well, I won’t refuse.”
Whoooosh!
“Ugh!”
A thin stream of blood trickled from Sa Gong-cheon’s lips as he took the Asura Path’s attack head-on.
After just a single exchange, he had already sustained internal injuries.
I shouted urgently toward him.
“Sa Gong Guard! Don’t interfere. Withdraw immediately!”
“B-but!”
“That’s an order!”
Hearing the sincerity in my voice, Sa Gong-cheon gritted his teeth and retreated backward.
He must have thought himself a burden.
But he was wrong.
The brief opening Sa Gong-cheon had created.
I used that moment to stabilize my condition and prepare my next move.
Crack!
I channeled every ounce of strength into my body and kicked off the ground with full force.
The Windgod Technique unfolded as I charged toward my opponent at maximum speed—a velocity that momentarily exceeded even the Asura Path’s.
Whoosh!
But before I could reach Wi Ji-hon, the flames of the Immovable Wisdom King that he had summoned blocked my path.
So I immediately gathered my energy using the Bukcheon Divine Art and wrapped a tempest around my blade.
What followed was the Storm Slash.
Boom boom boom boom crash!
A golden tempest erupted from my sword, engulfing Wi Ji-hon.
“Hoo!”
Whoosh! Whoosh whoosh!
Wi Ji-hon let out an exclamation of delight, unbothered by the countless lacerations tearing across his entire body.
He seemed utterly exhilarated by this strike.
But he quickly wrapped flames around his blade and split the tempest asunder.
This was the first time anyone had ever broken through my Storm Slash like this, and I found myself momentarily at a loss for words.
“How fortunate that I found you! This is no skill a mere boy your age should possess. Hehehehe, could it be that I’m facing a future member of the Thirteen Venerables?”
“Aaaaaahhhhh!”
“Come at me with everything you have! Even if you’re trying to kill me, I’ll gladly accept it all!”
I didn’t hold back and unleashed my full power.
Boom boom boom crash!
A tremendous surge of energy erupted from my body, shaking the world as though an earthquake had struck.
Yet even amidst this, Wi Ji-hon laughed with delight and swung his blade. I met him with every ounce of my strength.
Clang clang clang clang!
In the blink of an eye, an enormous number of exchanges occurred.
Each one was a lethal attack capable of severing the other’s neck.
Yet none of them delivered the decisive blow.
‘Then!’
I unleashed an explosive force through my lower body and threw myself forward.
Raging Wind Flash!
The strike that had felled countless formidable opponents I’d faced crashed toward Surado.
He twisted his blade with a sly grin.
Then he murmured softly.
“Supreme rank.”
At the same moment, flames coiled around his blade.
He wielded it as if painting upon empty air.
The flame-wreathed strike collided with Raging Wind Flash, unleashing a tremendous shockwave.
Boom-boom-boom!
“Ugh!”
I couldn’t withstand the backlash and tumbled backward across the ground several times.
My inner energy was already depleted, and my muscles screamed for mercy, yet Surado appeared entirely unscathed.
Was this truly the prowess of a Heavenly Martial Realm master?
If Surado so desired, taking my life would be as simple as turning over my palm. With that thought, I gritted my teeth and rose to my feet.
In the worst case, I would buy time for my companions to escape.
But Surado launched no further attacks.
Instead, he wore a satisfied, refreshed expression.
“That was entertaining. You’re the successor of the Adamantine Yaksha King.”
His eyes suggested he wouldn’t attack again.
He enjoyed combat but not slaughter.
I exhaled and sheathed my sword.
“That’s a relief. Then, Wi Ji-hon, might I ask you one thing?”
“Senior, not that. Just call me Senior. What’s so curious?”
“Senior, how were you able to master the Immovable Wisdom King’s Heart Method?”
In my past life, I wouldn’t have discovered the Adamantine Yaksha Divine Scripture without layers of coincidence.
Yet the fact that he possessed one of the other Five Wisdom Kings’ techniques fascinated me.
But Wi Ji-hon answered indifferently.
“I simply found the arrangements the Wisdom King left behind.”
It seemed similar to my own discovery of protective martial arts in Esoteric Buddhism ruins.
I wanted to probe deeper, but decided to ask something else first.
Since I’d met Surado, I might as well exploit him.
“Senior, why do you seek out strong warriors and challenge them like this?”
“Hmm? Because it’s fun, of course. Isn’t that natural for any martial artist?”
“Not everyone feels that way, but… I see your point.”
I took a calm, deep breath.
This was where it mattered.
“Then, would you consider joining hands with me?”
“What? Suddenly?”
“Yes. You won’t lose by accepting my proposal. In fact, you’ll enjoy it. I’m certain of it.”
I spoke with complete confidence.
“I happen to know of a secret organization that Senior would have no trouble taking on, no matter how aggressively he attacked.”
An organization that loomed like a shadow behind the scenes of the martial world, yet whenever one probed it, powerful enemies emerged endlessly.
Wi Ji-hon’s eyes gleamed with intrigue at my words.

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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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