Chapter 76: Natural Enemy
It was half a cycle of sixty years ago when Taoist Cheongpung first saw the Devouring Demonic Monarch.
Remembering a person he had seen thirty years ago until now was not an easy thing, but his encounter with the Devouring Demonic Monarch had been that shocking.
The incident in which the Devouring Demonic Monarch first appeared in the martial world. In the bloody calamity called the Tragedy of the Hyeonjong Sect, he had broken the swords of numerous Qingcheng Sect swordsmen.
Clang! Clang!
The moment Taoist Cheongpung’s movement seemed to touch the Devouring Demonic Monarch, two sounds rang out in succession.
Taoist Cheongpung put forth his full strength from the start, aiming for a short battle.
It was a wise decision. This was because choosing a long-drawn-out battle against a master of the Great Absorption Method, who was capable of extorting others’ internal force, would only lower one’s own chances of winning.
“The sword of Qingcheng is fast. Yet it knows restraint. As much as fast swords pursue speed, they tend to easily become overly linear, but such a chronic problem is rare in the sword of Qingcheng. That is the strength of the Qingcheng Sect’s martial arts. It is for that reason that momentary changes are possible even while employing such a fast sword.”
“You talk too much.”
At the Devouring Demonic Monarch’s tone of discussing the sword of Qingcheng as if a master evaluating a novice, Taoist Cheongpung’s sword moved once again.
A slash extending like lightning instantly crossed the gap and reached the opponent.
Clang!
“I knew you were a promising sprout, but you have improved a lot. However, since I too have grown unlike back then, the gap between us still exists.”
The gap was still there.
At the words the Devouring Demonic Monarch kept tossing at him, Taoist Cheongpung ended up recalling the memories of the distant past in his mind.
Memories that remained vivid even now, thirty years later.
“Fuuu.”
As he exhaled deeply and regulated his breathing, Taoist Cheongpung’s sword glowed blue like a jewel.
It did not shimmer like a haze, but condensed into one, taking on a complete form.
Sword Astral.
What moved qi was the will. To completely materialize that will meant that the energy itself had achieved completion.
An energy of a perfected martial artist, transcending sword qi.
The power known to sever all things was loaded into Qingcheng’s martial arts, emitting a blue sword flash.
Boom!
The sound was also different.
An explosive sound burst out.
The sword astral qi, known to sever all things, was blocked by the hand of the Devouring Demonic Monarch, who was likewise shrouded in astral qi, emitting a roaring sound.
Taoist Cheongpung’s Sword Astral failed to cut the astral qi gathered on the Devouring Demonic Monarch’s hand.
“Do you still remember? The sound of the screams back then?”
“…….”
“If you’re not responding because you’re afraid of falling for my provocation, it seems meaningless, but aren’t you already speaking enough with your sword?”
“Kuh!”
“I wonder if, perhaps, the strength of your martial brothers is also mixed into this energy that is blocking your sword.”
In the past, there was an incident where a rising star of the Demonic Cult who had appeared in the martial world lost his life while fighting a life-and-death duel after a dispute with a martial artist of the Hyeonjong Sect, which was created by a lay disciple of the Qingcheng Sect.
Even though it was a life-and-death duel, it was an unwritten rule of the martial world to accept the result since it came from a fair martial contest, but the Demonic Cult ignored this and raided the Hyeonjong Sect.
The Qingcheng Sect also moved to protect the Hyeonjong Sect.
At that time, it was the Devouring Demonic Monarch who stood at the forefront, leading the elites of the Demonic Cult.
At that time, despite being evaluated as having established his own school of martial arts to some extent at an age approaching forty, Taoist Cheongpung was ultimately unable to cut down the Devouring Demonic Monarch.
Instead, the disciples of Qingcheng had their internal force and essence-blood sucked by the Devouring Demonic Monarch and lost their lives.
“……You have crossed the line, Devouring Demonic Monarch.”
“If that line refers to the orthodox path you speak of, I crossed it long ago. Then go ahead and punish me. They say there is a saying in Taoism, right? Heaven’s net is wide and coarse, yet nothing slips through. Go ahead and catch this sinner with your grand net.”
Heaven’s net is wide and coarse, yet nothing slips through.
An old saying that those who commit evil deeds will be punished someday.
However, making that old saying pale in comparison, the Devouring Demonic Monarch had been perfectly fine until now.
The Qingcheng Sect had raised their swords against the Demonic Cult that caused the bloody calamity back then, but they could not continue the fight. It was due to the presence of the unorthodox factions who would seek to fish in troubled waters.
Although the Hyeonjong Sect was destroyed, they saved face by exterminating the majority of the demonic practitioners of the Demonic Cult who had raided the Hyeonjong Sect.
Due to the arguments of those who did not wish for further escalation of the war, the Tragedy of the Hyeonjong Sect ended inconclusively, leaving behind only the emotion of resentment.
This became a deep-seated regret in Taoist Cheongpung’s heart for a long time.
“Even if you do not say it……”
Absolute Light.
One of the essences of the Qingcheng Sect’s sword study dwelt upon Taoist Cheongpung’s sword.
“……I will do so!”
An absolute technique burst forth.
Within that absolute technique, Taoist Cheongpung’s emotions were deeply imbued.
“Ha!”
However, seeing that, the Devouring Demonic Monarch burst into laughter.
Taoist Cheongpung’s sword was outstanding, but it was not perfect.
An impatient mind seeking a short battle.
The shaking of the mind caused by the provocation.
All of those returned as openings.
The exposed opening was minute, but there was no way a crafty veteran like the Devouring Demonic Monarch would miss it.
“I shall let you be together with your martial brothers inside me.”
Riding on the gap of the opening, the Great Absorption Method at its peak, crossing the distance, reached out aiming for Taoist Cheongpung’s refreshing energy.
“Kuh!”
Knowing that the moment that hand touched him even slightly, it would result in a fatal consequence, Taoist Cheongpung’s face stiffened.
And.
Bam!
The Devouring Demonic Monarch’s hand touched someone.
“Old mosquito mister, if you like sucking other people’s stuff, why don’t you try sucking mine instead?”
It was just that the person was not Taoist Cheongpung, whom the Devouring Demonic Monarch had intended to covet.
***
My bristling senses sensitively read the information from all directions. Master Zhang Sanfeng’s listening force and Master Heavenly Demon’s synesthesia grasped all the situations that were flowing by.
Among the information read and sensed in that way, there was also that of Taoist Cheongpung and the Devouring Demonic Monarch.
‘He can’t win…….’
The more he clashed with the Devouring Demonic Monarch, the more Taoist Cheongpung’s internal force scattered.
If the Devouring Demonic Monarch were letting his guard down to the fullest, Taoist Cheongpung might have a sliver of a chance, but the Devouring Demonic Monarch did not let his guard down. Rather, he shook Taoist Cheongpung with his provocation tactic.
I could feel Taoist Cheongpung, who had fallen for that trick, shaking.
‘I have to stop it.’
My body sprang forward without hesitation.
‘Ah, I don’t know!’
Even though he was shaken, Taoist Cheongpung’s absolute technique was not something I could handle at my level. The Devouring Demonic Monarch easily took and countered Taoist Cheongpung’s absolute technique.
It was a crazy thing to do. Running headlong against a master that even Taoist Cheongpung could not handle.
Moreover, bare-handed fighting was a worst match-up where the Great Absorption Method could exert its greatest advantage.
This was not an action that could be driven by calculation.
‘I believe in you, Master!’
It was faith rather than calculation.
There was no way my master would be wrong about martial arts.
Charging headlong, I blocked the hand of the Devouring Demonic Monarch, who was aiming for Taoist Cheongpung with his Great Absorption Method.
Crash!
“Old mosquito mister, if you like sucking other people’s stuff, why don’t you try sucking mine instead?”
Screeech!
A reckless charge combined with an unexpected attack. As the two combined, even the Devouring Demonic Monarch was pushed back by more than ten steps at first.
Up to here, it was good.
‘Ugh! H-heavy!’
However, the moment he regained his balance and held his ground, the Devouring Demonic Monarch became as heavy as Mount Tai.
He became something I could no longer push away with my strength.
At the same time, maintaining the posture of facing palm force, it took the form of naturally leading into a clash of internal force.
A clash of internal force. It was not a fight of stances where one processed and brandished internal energy, but a rough contest decided by the quality and quantity of internal energy.
This was like a tug-of-war. Unless one side collapsed, it would not end. If it were ended sloppily, the qi in contact with each other would fluctuate, making it very easy for one’s qi and blood vessels to be shattered.
The losing side, of course, would suffer internal injuries where their acupoints were severely shaken.
It was a fight that would only end when one absolutely pushed away the opponent’s qi and turned their acupoints upside down.
It was also not easy for anyone to intervene from the outside.
The problem was that, although it had taken the form of a clash of internal force, it could not be a normal clash of internal force due to the nature of the Devouring Demonic Monarch’s martial arts.
The Devouring Demonic Monarch accepted and devoured the internal force I was working hard to push in without refusing.
“I don’t know what to call this. It is to the point of being flustered.”
The Devouring Demonic Monarch had an expression of being dumbfounded rather than flustered. Was it like the expression of a tiger when a mouse jumps into its mouth while it is yawning?
Even in the midst of that, he was vigilantly guarding against any sudden attack from Taoist Cheongpung.
“Right, at least you are not completely stupid.”
Looking at Taoist Cheongpung’s hesitating reaction, the Devouring Demonic Monarch grinned.
This was because if the clash of internal force (?) were stopped midway due to the overwhelming difference in internal force, I alone would suffer one-sided damage. Knowing that, Elder Taoist Cheongpung could not attack either.
The Devouring Demonic Monarch’s gaze turned back toward me.
“The level of the orthodox path has dropped a lot. Engaging in a clash of internal force against me, who has cultivated the Great Absorption Method to its peak. How did such an idiot become the rising star drawing the most attention lately?”
‘This fellow still runs his mouth so well.’
It indeed felt like a giant swamp. No matter how much power I poured in, the bottom could not be fathomed.
“You too shall become history within me.”
With those words, the aspect of the fight changed.
Instead of devouring the power I pushed in, he actively extorted my power.
‘The Great Absorption Method?!’
My internal force was sucked in in an instant.
My internal energy was not controlled. I could not hold onto what was being sucked away. In an instant, my internal energy disappeared.
‘You said he couldn’t beat me with the Great Absorption Method!’
A slight resentment toward Master Zhang Sanfeng arose, but I threw away such thoughts immediately and did what I could.
‘At this rate, my innate qi and even my vital energy will be sucked dry, and I’ll become a mummy drained of all my essence-blood.’
I had to protect my body. For that purpose, everything inside me moved.
The foundation of my physical body. The Heavy Earth Divine Art, which could be called the framework, moved to protect the vessel.
The Three Talents Unified Qi Art was a martial art that even allowed the martial arts of the legendary Master Bodhidharma and Master Heavenly Demon to interact with each other.
Depending on how one heard it, interacting unilaterally meant that one could also ‘interfere’ with other types of foreign qi.
The Three Talents Unified Qi Art transmitted by Master Zhang Sanfeng ‘interfered’ with the Great Absorption Method that was extorting my internal energy like a thug.
It let the internal energy be taken, but prevented the physical vessel from being touched.
The divine power of earth built a wall to solidify the vessel, and the divine power of metal filled the lacking gaps.
I protected my body through the same steps as when I protected my body before unfolding the Heavenly Demon Kalpaless Hand.
‘Huh?’
Then, I could realize one fact.
‘What is this?’
Something I had not known when my internal energy was full.
As I was forcibly extorted and an empty space was created, what I had not known clearly revealed its appearance.
As much as it was being emptied, it was being filled.
‘The Baihui point?!’
As the internal energy drained out like a levee whose dam had collapsed, as much internal energy poured down through the Baihui point at the crown of my head as was escaping.
What poured down in torrents through my opened head filled the empty space.
A somewhat ‘familiar headache that I felt like I had experienced before’ stimulated my head, but in this situation, that much was merely a trivial matter.
Those who practiced internal energy often compared qi to water. Indeed, the flow of qi felt similar to water.
I was a vessel. A vessel that was still small and could not hold much, but was as hard as diamond.
Every time the water contained in that vessel escaped, new water entered and filled the place.
And I came to know one more thing.
‘It is growing larger.’
Just as furrows were dug and area expanded when a torrent raged, I could feel the vessel growing larger.
It changed so that it could contain and flow with more water.
I could feel it taking on a different shape. I could feel the vessels inside me becoming harder through tempering.
It was changing enough for me to feel in real-time that I was growing.
[Devouring that guy would be easier from your standpoint, you know?]
The words Master Zhang Sanfeng had said finally made sense now.
It did not mean to beat him up, but literally to ‘devour’ him in the purest sense.
[You rascal! You doubted me, didn’t you?]
Master Zhang Sanfeng, who had been keeping his mouth shut and watching, grumbled.
Those words pierced like an awl.
[Hmph! Well, whatever.]
When I feigned ignorance without showing it on my face, Master Zhang Sanfeng stepped back slightly. He seemed to have something more interesting than that.
[Now, how will that bastard run his mouth.]
‘I’m curious about that too.’
Sure enough, the mouth of the Devouring Demonic Monarch, who had been leisurely acting up until a moment ago, was tightly shut like a clam facing danger.
An appearance devoid of even a sliver of composure.
Looking at that, I had something I wanted to do even if it meant pushing myself.
‘Right, they say keeping what you want to do bottled up makes you sick.’
“Why? Keep babbling, won’t you?”
[Bwahahaha!]
I had spat it out.
Hearing the ringing laughter loud enough to hurt my ears, it seemed my master liked it quite a bit too.