Chapter 490: I Definitely Disposed of Him Back Then

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A single-story pavilion located slightly to the southeast of the center of the Central Heaven Tower compound.

There was a stone training chamber here, sealed on all sides except for the entrance.

Even the door for coming and going was made of stone, making it a space that was essentially completely closed off.

Inside that place without a single window.

Swoosh… Sshik… Swoosh… !

Piercing sounds of slashing through air sharply burst forth.

It was Eul Sa-jeok… Whose body had recovered due to the effects of consuming gu poison… Practicing some kind of sword technique.

He wasn’t the only one there.

Central Heaven Tower executives had joined to help with his training.

The personnel in question were two Young General-ranks.

The training progression was fairly simple.

Eul Sa-jeok was purely on the offensive, while the two Young General-ranks focused on evasion and defense.

Eul Sa-jeok, who had been doing this training since morning, struggled with stamina management.

It was natural.

Since the format had him pressuring two people alone, the process was very demanding despite the simple method.

But he was enjoying even that.

Why?

Because just being able to move his body like this was good.

His body was tired but his heart was light…

It would be accurate to say it felt like being reborn.

The fierce wind sounds bursting from his sword were unceasing.

Shwik… Shukak… Ssweng… !

As fast and heavy consecutive sword techniques flew in, the two Young General-ranks’ movements became busier.

Pat, papapat, pat… !

Amidst that, Eul Sa-jeok briefly exclaimed to himself inwardly.

‘The range of each technique is quite wide! It’s convenient for facing multiple opponents!’

Even while using only the early parts of the sword art manual that the Heaven Emperor Society Lord had supposedly devised, he was keenly feeling its outstanding subtleties.

Of course, the fact that he had been using that sword technique since morning also had an effect.

Except for brief rest periods, he had devoted himself to training, so his understanding and proficiency with the techniques had naturally improved.

‘Hoho. If I master this all the way to the end…’

His flashing eyes spoke in place of his mouth.

If he mastered this completely, he wouldn’t envy things like the White Cliff Sword Art of White Peak Sword Sect, his former sect.

In no time.

-Ding… Ding… Ding…

A very faint sound flowed into the training chamber.

It was the bell announcing the time.

Immediately after the sound stopped, one Young General-rank spoke.

“It’s the beginning of the hour of the rooster (5 PM).”

At the same time, the three of them retreated, widening the gaps between them.

It was a signal that training was reaching its end.

The three who had formed a triangle were all drenched from head to toe.

The Young General-rank who had just spoken opened his mouth again.

“Now this is the last, so swing your sword with all your might.”

Not to be outdone, the Young General-rank beside him added his voice.

“Swing thinking you’ll definitely kill us. Don’t worry about us getting hurt.”

Eul Sa-jeok then wiped the beads of sweat forming on his forehead with his left sleeve and operated ascending internal power.

While doing so, he asked toward the front in a low voice.

“Will you be alright?”

Sneers formed on the faces of the two Young General-ranks.

“Ha… Of course.”

“Who’s worrying about whom?”

They showed signs of looking down on Eul Sa-jeok’s abilities.

Well, that was understandable.

It was true that Eul Sa-jeok’s body had improved, but it hadn’t reached a perfect level.

Eul Sa-jeok, having detected that attitude, found his mood twisted.

‘So you’re looking down on me? These arrogant bastards…’

A conversation with Pa Ga-wi, the Central Heaven Tower’s leader, from before quickly flashed through his mind.

-In about five or six days, I expect your bones will be fully mended. Along with strengthening of the muscles throughout your body, of course. It means the egg’s hatching period is being shortened.

-Ah… That quickly…!

-It seems the gu poison’s outstanding efficacy is responding to your desires.

-Whatever the case, if recovery is faster, that’s good.

-Now, let me bestow upon you the essence of ascending martial arts. Cast away needless doubts. It’s a sword art of outstanding subtlety.

-Could this possibly be something that didn’t exist before…

-Boy, you’ve got some sharp senses. That is one of the sword arts devised by our Society Lord himself.

-Ah…! Th-thank you!

-Memorize it all. I’ll give you three days from now.

-Understood. However… Even if I memorize it all, won’t it take quite a while to master it?

-Is that what you think?

-Pardon? Isn’t… That the case?

-For you, it won’t be difficult to master.

-H-how…? If this is the essence of ascending martial arts, it should naturally be abstruse content…

-If your body were in an incomplete state, you would feel the difficulty. But you’ve consumed isolated poison and your body is undergoing transformation. That power is far more outstanding than you’d think.

-Ah…!

-Do you understand now?

-Yes! If my body doesn’t follow, it would be difficult, but if I borrow the power of the isolated poison, executing it becomes easy…

-That’s exactly it. If your body simply follows what you think, what problem would there be?

Recalling that, Eul Sa-jeok let out a small sound of satisfaction inwardly.

‘Kukuk. Just as he said. There’s no problem for me.’

The two young general-ranks didn’t know.

Exactly what state his body was in.

His bones had long since fully mended.

Moreover, even the egg’s hatching period had been shortened.

And was that all?

Due to the awakened gu poison’s covert action, even his internal power level had sharply increased.

This was, in fact, abnormally rapid development.

Put another way, the attributes of the gu poison had matched perfectly with Eul Sa-jeok’s constitution.

Like an unintended additional opportunity and miracle.

During today’s training as well, the power of the isolated poison had continuously performed remarkable action, gradually supplementing his stamina.

What did that mean?

Complete hatching.

That’s right.

It meant the hatched isolated poison had grown into an adult form in a short time.

It was a fact that even Pa Ga-wi didn’t know yet.

Because he wanted to surprise him later.

‘I had no intention of revealing it until I formally receive his praise… But you dare provoke me?’

Having muttered inwardly, Eul Sa-jeok raised his sword and spoke.

“If I swing thinking I’ll kill you, I feel like I might really kill you… So I’ll hold back a bit. Even so, it would be best to be especially careful.”

The two Young General-ranks wore expressions of disbelief.

“Careful? Ha…”

“Stop talking and just do it.”

Suddenly, a solemn formless energy exploded from outside Eul Sa-jeok’s body.

Gooooo… Drrrrrr…

The entire training chamber shook noisily.

The feeling was such that it even made one choke.

The marvelous circulation speed of the gu poison replacing the dantian.

It was a heavy power released literally in the blink of an eye.

The faces of the two young general-ranks instantly hardened.

‘What!’

‘This can’t be…!’

They had already intuited from that formless energy alone.

That Eul Sa-jeok’s internal power level was at a level surpassing the young general-rank.

The two of them drew their swords without waiting for the other and raised their power to the fullest.

Thus, both simultaneously operated ascending power.

It was an instinctive reaction born from bewilderment and sense of crisis.

In an instant.

Hwit.

Eul Sa-jeok’s form vanished like a ghost.

Just then, one Young General-rank flinched.

Because he felt something cold and sharp stabbing down toward his crown.

“Hup!”

Before that sound came out, his head snapped up.

Then a shadow was projected in his dark brown pupils.

It was Eul Sa-jeok, soundlessly dropping from the ceiling.

The gap from the jump to the descent was incomprehensibly rapid.

Light flashed for an instant.

Sword energy formed on the blade aimed at his crown.

The Young General-rank expelled internal power through his bubbling spring acupoint.

It was a reflexive attempt to retreat.

Chuchuk!

The sound of clothes caught on the blade tip being torn long.

Following that.

Bang!

With a dull sound, the Young General-rank flew backward.

He slammed his back against the wall and went splat! While falling forward, letting out a pained voice.

Internal injury.

He had been hit by an unexpectedly wide-ranging sword force.

In other words, Eul Sa-jeok had instantaneously widened the radius of power release through the descending sword technique.

In short, it was a calculated move exploiting the confined space.

At that moment, the other Young General-rank who had barely escaped the range kicked off the ground and closed in on Eul Sa-jeok’s side.

However.

Kabang!

Eul Sa-jeok, executing a heavy internal power stomp, deflected the Young General-rank.

Hweeek… Pupuk!

The minor-rank who collided with the wall behind spurted fresh blood.

“Kuk…!”

He had been hit by the astonishingly fast speed of power release.

Currently, Eul Sa-jeok’s circulation of energy surpassed ordinary levels.

Everything was too fast.

Hwik!

Eul Sa-jeok, having advanced swiftly, executed a sword technique toward the Young General-rank who had first been deflected.

A thrusting technique that was simple as could be.

But the power loaded on that blade was too terrifying.

Crack… Kwaaang!

The wall behind the Young General who had raised his sword to block was dented like a spider’s web.

In the end, he received the shock and passed out.

There was no finesse in Eul Sa-jeok’s swordwork.

He merely used the overwhelming internal power gap to push down his opponent.

Following that.

Hwihwik!

Moving at rapid speed, Eul Sa-jeok thrust his sword at the remaining Young General.

It was the same method this time too.

He loaded massive internal power into the thrusting technique.

Simple and crude, but truly overwhelming sword momentum.

Crack… Kwaaang!

“Guheo!”

The Young General who let out a groan flew backward like a falling leaf, slammed into the stone wall with a bang, and collapsed unconscious.

Silence enveloped the training chamber.

Eul Sa-jeok tilted his sword and raised the corner of his mouth.

“Pft, what a sight. That’s what you get for sneering at someone right in front of them.”

But at that moment, the training chamber door swung wide open.

Following that, someone’s low voice knocked on his ears.

“Oh, this is unexpected.”

The owner of the voice was Pa Ga-wi, the Central Heaven Tower’s Grand General.

Seeing him, Eul Sa-jeok put on a flustered expression as he showed his respects and spoke.

“Ah… You’ve come? I-I’m sorry. I got a bit carried away…”

Thereupon, Pa Ga-wi, having approached, shook his head slightly.

“No, why be sorry? Rather, I’m pleased. But… When was it?”

He was asking when the hatched isolated poison had become an adult form.

“Yes, I felt it grow completely within a day.”

“Hoho. For me too, this is quite a surprising matter. It seems your constitution and the gu poison’s compatibility matched exquisitely. Your development is faster than I thought.”

“Thank you. I will devote myself further and definitely repay this grace.”

“Indeed, you must. Let’s go out now. After dinner, rest comfortably in your quarters and recover your strength.”

“Yes.”

Eul Sa-jeok, answering with a bowed head, muttered inwardly.

‘Just watch. I’ll develop even more than you think. Someday I’ll sit in a higher position… So wait for it. Ahahaha.’

* * *

After eating dinner and returning to his quarters, Eul Sa-jeok soon tended to his body through energy circulation and breathing, then took something out.

It was none other than the Spiritual Awakening Stone that he had hidden under his bed.

‘I need to figure out how to use this eventually…’

At that moment, the Spiritual Awakening Stone emitted a mysterious radiant light.

Swishhh…

It immediately transformed into the shape of the Divine Martial Sword.

‘Oh! Again…? What on earth does this mean?’

At that moment, a roaring sound rang out.

Kabang… !

A sound that seemed to come from the darkened sky above.

No.

To be precise, it seemed to be from the uppermost floor of this very pavilion where Eul Sa-jeok was staying.

The impact was enough to shake the entire pavilion.

Could something have flown in and pierced through the roof?

Just as Eul Sa-jeok was startled.

Kwa kwa kwa kwa kwang… Drrr drrr drrr drrr deuk… !

From the third-floor pavilion’s top floor came roaring and vibrations.

The sound of whatever had smashed through it falling to the second floor was heard.

It was clearly the sound of something breaking through the building vertically.

Following that.

Kwa kwa kwa kwa kwang… Drrr drrr drrr drrr deuk… !

The center of the spacious quarters’ ceiling was destroyed, scattering debris.

Crackling crackling… Thud thud thud…

At that moment, Eul Sa-jeok saw it.

A pure white mass of light dropping from the large hole above and burying itself in the dust.

‘Wh-what is this…?’

Eul Sa-jeok put the stone in his bosom and swiftly gripped his sword to look forward.

Suddenly, an expressionless voice was heard.

“I definitely disposed of him back then.”

That voice leaked from within the hazy dust.

At the same time, ripples arose in Eul Sa-jeok’s pupils.

‘No way…!’

Goosebumps rose all over.

Because he had intuited who the owner of the voice was.

Just then, a gust of wind blew and pushed away the dirt dust.

Swishhh…

The form of Cheol Ryu-heun, mounted on Divine Wind’s back, was revealed.

Seeing that face, Eul Sa-jeok’s eyes went wide.

“Che… Cheol Ryu-heun…!”

“How did a bug crawl out? Should I have erased him instead of just disposing of him back then?”

At Cheol Ryu-heun’s apathetic words, Eul Sa-jeok lost his reason and rushed in.

“Bastard!”

However.

Kwahaaang… Puheoong!

A terrifying formless energy struck Eul Sa-jeok’s front directly.

“Gyaah!”

Thus, he pierced through the wall with a sharp scream and flew outside.

Cheol Ryu-heun, having dismounted to the floor, spoke languidly.

“Stay crushed and quiet until I’ve dealt with everyone.”

(Reminds me of the scene in Dragon Ball Super:Broly, when Gojeta told frieza to stay there while he beats Broly)