Chapter 230: Object of Awe
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Seop Pyo, who had been inwardly bristling, reluctantly bowed, and Cheol Ryu-heun immediately shrugged his shoulders.
“Ah, you actually did it. It was just a random thing I said. As expected, subordinates are all about training.”
Then Seop Pyo, who had sprung to his feet, clenched his fist tightly.
‘KEUK… THAT, THAT…! We don’t match! He and I don’t match!’
His insides were boiling.
Going along with that young lecturer whose mind was impossible to read was truly an ordeal.
-Still alive. Shitty Swordsman.
The memory of their first meeting that hadn’t been pleasant.
That’s when he had intuited.
Because of the diary of Ascending Heaven Sword Dragon recording old matters, his relationship with Cheol Ryu-heun seemed like it would continue.
That even after fulfilling all three requests, he would somehow keep getting entangled.
He had been right.
No, it had gone even further than that.
Now they had become inseparable.
What could he do about it?
He had already distinctly pressed his seal onto the covenant letter that read ‘slave’ but was called ‘Guest Retainer’…
‘KKEUNG, I’m the adult so I must endure.’
He suppressed his anger while thinking of Cui Lan.
Breaking his vow of non-killing and coming outside had been solely for the future of that child he cherished like his own.
Moreover.
Though the occasional lecturing was annoying, his heart held far greater gratitude.
Cheol Ryu-heun was a benefactor who had given great teachings, as he himself said.
If not for him, achieving Return to Origin would have been difficult.
Right.
He was a person who had given everything generously, so he could bear that much lecturing.
Meanwhile, the Thunder Lightning Sect swordsmen who had witnessed Cheol Ryu-heun’s attitude were inwardly impressed.
They felt it anew.
The lofty seniority of Cheol Ryu-heun.
In this current age, who else could treat Head-Severing Yama, the legendary myth of the previous generation’s assassin world, like a subordinate?
Of course, on the day of the sparring match not long ago, they had seen the powerful figures among the Five Supreme Martial Experts of Hunan Province and Six Extremes of Hubei accepting that supreme seniority, but it was still a sight not easy to adjust to.
At that moment, Cheol Ryu-heun spoke expressionlessly.
“The compensation for today’s meal has been given in advance. To your disciple.”
“What? To Lan…?”
The instant Seop Pyo widened his eyes.
“The achievement of the Myriad Poisons Impervious Body.”
Simultaneously, the Thunder Lightning Sect group including Wei Ji-am was astonished.
That meant, as the name suggested, a legendary body impervious to the world’s myriad poisons…
‘HEOH! She achieved that? Senior’s disciple…!’
As Wei Ji-am clicked his tongue in amazement, another astonishing statement was added.
“As a bonus, I also handed over the personal martial arts manual of the Slaughter Guanyin Pung Wu-hui. Well, isn’t that a satisfying meal compensation?”
At those words, the Thunder Lightning Sect group’s minds went blank.
Slaughter Guanyin Pung Wu-hui.
It was a title and name that anyone with interest in martial history couldn’t not know.
An existence famous three hundred years ago as a supreme-realm female assassin who was the owner of the Divine Martial Sword.
She was merciful like Guanyin Bodhisattva to good people, but merciless like Abang Yaksha to bad people…
It was marvelous.
Also.
They were curious.
What exactly was the substance of the fortuitous encounter Cheol Ryu-heun had obtained?
As everyone tilted their heads.
Seop Pyo exclaimed with great joy as if it were his own matter.
“AH! Thank you truly! HOHO… Sect Master Cheol! As the master of Lan, there could be no more satisfying compensation than that!”
Cui Lan’s development was equivalent to his own achievement.
Because she was an existence he treasured like his own flesh and blood.
It was Cheol Ryu-heun’s thoughtful arrangement that understood that.
Right at that moment.
HWIHWIHWIHWIK, HWIHWIHWIHWIK-
Along with a series of wind sounds, two groups of martial artists appeared.
They were the Dark Hall led by Dark Sword Fragrance Mun Bin and the Jackal Wolf Blade Sect led by Hungry Wolf Blade Demon Jinjo Jeok-je.
When Cheol Ryu-heun shifted his gaze there and asked.
“The result?”
Mun Bin, who had taken courtesy, answered as the representative.
“Total annihilation.”
“That’s obvious.”
“Excuse me?”
“I was asking about the result of applying the power you realized in actual combat.”
“Ah… Yes. Haha. It was successful. The powerful wondrous applications of Phosphorus Fire Energy and Ghost Phosphorus Energy exceeded expectations. And the ghost energy sorcery I mastered through the fortuitous encounter arranged by Ghost Fire Sword God was also truly remarkable.”
“Then good. But you still need more refinement. Try to perfectly harmonize the divine abilities of the Ink God Robe with the ghost energy of the sorcery, like the Ghost Fire Sword God did.”
“Yes. Understood. I will work harder than now.”
Immediately after, wind sounds were heard again.
CHEOCHEOCHEOK, CHEOCHEOK, CHEOCHEOCHEOCHEOK…
With Black Rope Wondrous Lady Na Rae-hyang, one of Five Elegants of Jiangxi, and Northern Dipper Beggar Woo Yong at the forefront, the Beggar Sect group appeared near them.
Everyone looked to have finished the job without major injuries.
Soon, Seven-Knot Elder Woo Yong offered greetings.
“This is the first time meeting you today, Sect Leader Cheol. I am Woo Yong of the Beggar Sect.”
As if not to be outdone, Na Rae-hyang also expressed courtesy.
“It’s my first time meeting you too. Though I’ve already heard through the Elder.”
After exchanging a few words.
“What happened to the ringleader?”
When Seop Pyo asked quietly, Cheol Ryu-heun turned his head.
“He ran away.”
“What? How could that be… Was his martial prowess unexpectedly strong?”
“What are you talking about. I just let him go. Told him to go make his report. Since nothing will change anyway.”
“Ah, I see.”
The moment Seop Pyo nodded, Na Rae-hyang spoke up.
“Sect Leader Cheol. By the way, was the Sun Moon Demon Arrival Technique essence based on Yang Heart Divine Art that you showed earlier also realized through a mystical fortuitous encounter?”
Cheol Ryu-heun answered with a silent nod in lieu of words.
Then the complexions of the Beggar Sect group wavered.
Rippling pupils.
He employed Sun Moon Demon Arrival Technique using Yang Heart Divine Art?
Woo Yong felt dizzy in his head.
‘What an immeasurable ability. I’ve lived long enough to see everything. For such an existence to appear in the martial world…’
To encompass not just orthodox martial arts but even foreign demonic arts, it was simply astounding.
On the other hand, Mun Bin, Wei Ji-am, Jinjo Jeok-je, and others showed no change in expression.
It was because they had heard some secrets about the new power Cheol Ryu-heun possessed at the noon meeting on the day of the sparring.
They knew.
That the real new power hadn’t even been revealed yet…
Wei Ji-am smiled soundlessly, barely visible.
‘I’m looking forward to it. When that power is revealed, what expression will the Sun Moon Demon Cult Patriarch make?’
Cheol Ryu-heun also smiled inwardly and thought.
‘The formulas of Sun Moon Demon Arrival Technique. HUT. Of course I know them well.’
That was only natural.
Because the demonic studies of the Asura Demon Cult, Phantasm Demon Cult, and Sun Moon Demon Cult, excluding the Blood Demon Cult, all originated from the Progenitor of Ten Thousand Demons.
The demonic person who had first owned him as Divine Martial Sword one thousand years ago.
That was precisely the first Patriarch of the Heavenly Demon Cult, the Heavenly Demon.
The figure who had given birth to Sun Moon Demon Cult several hundred years ago was a powerhouse from the Heavenly Demon Cult and a master of Sun Moon Great Demonic Heaven Art, the original demonic study of Sun Moon Demon Arrival Technique.
Cheol Ryu-heun knew the person who had first created it.
Sun Moon Great Demon of the Heavenly Demon’s era.
He was the creator of Sun Moon Great Demonic Heaven Art and one of the first Dharma Protectors of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
Moreover, Sun Moon Great Demonic Heaven Art had been completed with the help of his superior, the Heavenly Demon.
Therefore, Cheol Ryu-heun was able to discern the essence of the Sun Moon Demon Arrival Technique, which was of the same lineage.
Even though there had been no previous owner of Divine Martial Sword in Sun Moon Demon Cult’s history.
Soon, Cheol Ryu-heun changed the topic expressionlessly.
“First, the next plan.”
He thus spoke of something to the gathered people.
When he finished speaking, everyone cast surprised gazes.
What Cheol Ryu-heun had said was quite shocking.
Woo Yong soon asked cautiously.
“Will you be alright?”
“Of course.”
Cheol Ryu-heun nodded and then instructed.
“I am counting on the Beggar Sect’s role.”
Woo Yong, who had read the hidden meaning, flashed his eyes with a resolute expression.
“Yes. The Sect Leader is also already on the move. So that the Mount Tai and North Star that everyone acknowledges in the martial world will step forward to the front… In any case, I will wrap up all matters in time for the date you mentioned.”
At that moment, Wei Ji-am quietly posed a question.
“Sect Leader Cheol. Shouldn’t we also block the rear path in advance?”
“I’ve already sent people.”
Then Wei Ji-am and the others wondered.
“What?”
“Already?”
“But a considerable number of personnel would be needed… Also, we must be prepared for sacrifices…”
Cheol Ryu-heun, gripping the reins, spoke in an indifferent voice.
“I’ve arranged it. In a way that minimizes our personnel losses. An unprecedented alliance will soon be formed.”
“……!”
People surprised once again.
Cheol Ryu-heun paid no heed and continued.
“Well, simply put, I’ve imitated the Ascending Heaven Sword Dragon a bit.”
Then everyone tilted their heads.
What was he talking about?
But one thing they understood.
That if it was a plan secretly pursued by Cheol Ryu-heun himself rather than anyone else, there would be no gaps…
“Then I’ll be going now. I have to move busily from now on.”
Cheol Ryu-heun spoke those words, put Seop Pyo and Na Rae-hyang on Divine Wind’s back, then lightly kicked one side of Divine Wind’s belly.
KWANG!
Divine Wind, having emitted pure white heat haze, vanished far away in an instant.
* * *
Around the same time.
The light of disbelief filled Ximen Yue’s eyes.
‘How is this possible!’
The cause was a letter secretly delivered during his closed-door training.
It was a report from the Swift Wind Squad that had gone to observe the sparring.
Nu-heum standing beside him also wore an expression of disbelief.
“Young Master, what is this…”
Immediately after, Ximen Yue crumpled the letter and explosively released killing intent from his body.
Then Nu-heum, body flinching, backed away several steps.
“P-please calm down.”
But Ximen Yue’s killing intent grew even thicker.
PIT, PIPIT… PIT…
Hook-shaped heat haze rose up and burst forth with unpleasant sounds.
It was energy even larger and sharper in form than before, as if teaching of his physical achievement.
That’s right.
Rapid development.
He was in a state approaching the ultimate mystery of the Sun Moon Demon Arrival Technique, its extreme culmination.
The interior of Divine Wind Hall trembled from Ximen Yue’s fearsome aura.
DEUDEUDEUDEU, DEUDEUDEUDEU…
If it hadn’t been a sturdily designed place, it would have been mercilessly destroyed by that heavy pressure.
Soon, Ximen Yue’s lips let out a chilling voice.
“For him to have been hiding such powerful martial strength…”
A face surfacing in his mind.
Cheol Ryu-heun.
A competitive spirit swirled in his chest.
With things having come to this, he couldn’t stay still.
“I’ve already been realizing quickly and moved the date forward but… after reading this letter, I think I should hurry even more.”
Then Nu-heum spoke with a grave expression.
“Please don’t push yourself too hard. He still doesn’t know about us.”
At that moment, a murderous smile formed at the corner of Ximen Yue’s mouth.
Seeing that smile, Nu-heum felt chills run down his spine.
Right now, Ximen Yue’s expression was a demonic smile beyond a mere murderous smile.
He couldn’t breathe.
Even his body trembled uncontrollably.
Internal power at a truly awe-inspiring level was detected by his ki sense.
Inside Ximen Yue’s body, it felt as if a boundless great ocean was violently churning.
It was an demonic energy that simultaneously delivered turbidity and intensity.
‘An object of awe… He has reached the realm of a true superhuman!’
The instant Nu-heum, wrapped in shudders, marveled.
SEUSEUSEU, SEUSEUSEU…
Ximen Yue, having gathered his vicious demonic energy, declared boldly.
“Two days at most.”
“What?”
“Within that time, I will obtain the power of extreme culmination. And then…”
Trailing off, Ximen Yue used Void Grasping to draw and grip a sword.
“…That very day, I will go to execute Cheol Ryu-heun.”