Chapter 317: I Want to Fight More
Chapter 317: I Want to Fight More
It was forty-four against four, but in reality, it was a four-on-four duel.
The ghosts, lined up in a phalanx, drove straight forward. If this had been a technique where the ghosts could change direction and converge on us, Father probably wouldn't have split them into so many in the first place. After all, how could anyone possibly block forty-four ghosts at once?
Or so I thought.
The moment my four ghosts collided with the ones charging toward us, I froze in shock.
The other ghosts, which had been rushing forward, stopped dead in their tracks. I had naturally assumed that only the four pairs would clash while the rest swept past them to strike me.
He can even command them to halt!
Since my realm was still low, I hadn't realized the technique could be manipulated with such precision.
Then, surely... they aren't going to lunge at us all at once, are they?
Fortunately, the ghosts remained stationary.
The pressure, however, was immense. Four ghosts were locked in a brutal struggle, while forty others stood like silent executioners on either side of them.
Boom! Crash! Clang!
A tremendous clash erupted.
These were ghosts that usually swept away everything in their path, yet they couldn't push each other back. They fought like warriors on the front lines of a desperate battlefield, knowing that if they retreated, everyone behind them would perish. Every time sword met body, a thunderous roar shook the air and sparks flew like dying stars.
Beyond the ghosts, I could see Father. Even though maintaining forty-four forms must have been draining a staggering amount of internal energy, he looked perfectly composed.
He was showing me now: this is what the Great Annihilation Form looks like when it reaches Great Achievement.
And he was asking me: what kind of Great Annihilation Form will you achieve in the future?
Slowly, my four ghosts began to be pushed back. I poured every ounce of my internal energy into them, but I was no match for Father’s ghosts. Just as a pile of firewood cannot overcome the heat of molten lava, I was not yet his equal.
Did they know I would die if they fell? My four ghosts held their ground until the very end before finally flickering out of existence.
The logical choice was to use Blink Step to escape the area—to get completely out of the Great Annihilation Form’s range.
But I didn't want to.
At that moment, my eyes met Father’s.
I won't run.
I channeled the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Art, raising my Body Protection Qi to its limit. On top of that, I activated the fifth fist of the Thunder Asura Fist, Vajra Asura, turning my skin as hard as tempered steel.
Come! Let’s see if you can kill me.
K-boom!
I collided head-on with a rushing ghost. The impact reverberated through my marrow, but I held my ground. If I could withstand this first clash, I could endure the rest.
I blocked the ghost’s descending blade with my Black Demonic Sword.
The terrifying power made it feel like my arms were about to be torn from their sockets, but I gritted my teeth and swung back.
Clang! Clang! Screeech!
The sharp screech of metal rang out repeatedly. The ghost’s attacks were fast, precise, and devastating. It felt as if Father himself were striking down at me.
A brutal, continuous exchange followed. This was a fight I could never experience unless my opponent was Father. He pushed me to my absolute limits, but I struggled even harder to overcome the phantom.
Simply enduring was meaningless. I would destroy it, one way or another.
My attacks, fast as lightning, struck the ghost. It felt like hammering Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron. My arms throbbed with more pain than the target seemed to feel.
Clang! Boom! Clang!
At the final moment of the exchange, the Black Demonic Sword pierced the ghost’s heart with surgical precision.
Pshhhk!
Until now, it had felt like striking solid metal, but I finally heard the sound of tearing flesh.
Sssssss.
The next moment, the ghost began to dissolve into mist. As the one I was fighting vanished, the other forty ghosts disappeared along with it.
The strength left my legs, and I slumped to the ground, gasping for air.
I knew the truth. At the last second, Father had withdrawn the Great Annihilation Form. That was the only reason I was able to pierce its heart.
So this is Father’s Nine Calamities Demonic Art.
Father walked slowly toward me.
I was panting heavily, my lungs burning. Even though my whole body ached as if I were dying, and even though I had stared death in the face, I looked up at Father and spoke.
“I want to fight more.”
Father laughed. It wasn't the sneer he usually wore, nor was it the chuckle he couldn't hold back at my antics.
For the first time, I felt he was laughing as one martial artist to another.
“Then you should get up.”
I stood up with a groan. I could feel Father’s heat—his fighting spirit. Seeing me stand my ground against the Great Annihilation Form without flinching had set his own spirit ablaze. He probably hadn't expected me to block it like that.
“Perform the third form of the Nine Calamities Demonic Art.”
It was a command. Father would personally oversee my training of the third form. This was a fated encounter that only the Young Cult Leader could obtain—a reward for my fighting spirit.
I performed the third form of the Nine Calamities Demonic Art for the first time.
Nine Calamities Demonic Art, Third Form: Great Demonic Wall.
The third form was not a technique that summoned ghosts. It didn't even use a sword.
If the first form, Annihilation Form, was a technique targeting a single person, and the second form, Great Annihilation Form, was for mass slaughter...
Then the third form, Great Demonic Wall, was a defensive technique that erected a wall of Gang Qi in front of the user. It was fundamentally different from a Sword Wall, which created a barrier using Sword Qi.
The third form was undeniably difficult.
Even though I circulated my True Qi according to the oral formula I had learned, the Great Demonic Wall wouldn't form properly.
“I’ll replenish my True Qi for a moment.”
Thinking perhaps my internal energy was insufficient, I sat cross-legged and completed one circulation.
But it wasn't a matter of volume. The Great Demonic Wall still wouldn't rise.
“Why is this so difficult?”
“Because defense is harder than offense,” Father replied.
He was right. I had always felt that attacking was hard, but in truth, defense was the greater challenge. One realized this more and more as their realm rose.
I asked Father about the parts I didn't understand, and he explained them in detail. Realizations that would have taken months to achieve through solo training were understood in an instant.
I tried again, asked about the parts where I got stuck, and repeated the process. Finally...
“It’s done!”
Whoooosh!
With a deep, majestic roar of wind, the Great Demonic Wall finally rose.
It was a wall of Gang Qi flowing with a sky-blue light, matching the color of my Sword Force.
Towering like a fortress, it was a wall large enough to hide dozens of people. The more I trained, the sturdier it would become.
I wanted to keep looking at it, but because it consumed a massive amount of internal power, I couldn't maintain it for long.
Suddenly, I became curious about Father’s version.
“I want to see your Great Demonic Wall, Father.”
It would probably be ten times larger than mine, wouldn't it?
Father was in a good mood today. Saying, “Fine, I shall show you,” he performed the third form.
Whi-ing!
The sound was more concise, a light whistle of wind.
I was stunned when I saw the Great Demonic Wall that appeared before Father.
It was completely different from what I had imagined.
Father’s Great Demonic Wall was small. It was a shield just large enough to cover a single adult’s body.
Looking at the white energy flowing like concentrated mist, I understood.
Because the Gang Qi was so incredibly compressed, it could not be broken by any attack. It was harder than diamond, harder than Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron.
“As your realm rises, the Demonic Wall will shrink,” Father explained.
“But it will become harder instead, right?”
Father nodded and spoke firmly.
“A Great Demonic Wall that has reached Great Achievement cannot be pierced by any attack.”
Naturally, a question came to mind.
“Even by the Great Annihilation Form?”
“If both have reached Great Achievement, the outcome would be decided by whose martial talent is superior. The purity of one's internal energy would also play a role.”
My heart pounded. The Nine Calamities Demonic Art always made my chest swell with ambition.
“I want to see my Great Demonic Wall reach Great Achievement. And then, I want to try blocking your Great Annihilation Form with it.”
The gaze Father directed at me held a heat even more intense than before.
He was likely imagining himself crushing my Great Demonic Wall. Setting aside our relationship as father and son, we were both martial artists striving to reach the ultimate principle of the martial path.
“I will repay the grace you showed me today by not being pierced on that day. I will become an opponent you must fight with your full strength.”
That must have been the answer Father wanted. For the first time, he said these words:
“I shall wait.”
I will come to you, Father. And Father... our final destination won't be there. You must go much further with me.
I walked out of the training ground with Father. I could feel that he was in a good mood, which made me feel good as well.
“Have you solved the secret of the Secret Casket?”
“Not yet.”
I pulled the Secret Casket from my robe.
“Say hello to Father.”
Seeing the eyes and mouth drawn on it, Father sneered openly. Well, if I’m seeing Father, I should see that sneer too.
“What have you tried?”
“I haven't tried anything. That’s why this fellow is smiling so comfortably, isn't he?”
I put the Secret Casket back. I had a vague feeling that my connection with the casket would come naturally. Until then, we would just be friends.
“Is the Great Soul-Seizing Technique matter finished?”
As expected, Father knew everything. Tongcheon Pavilion was an outstanding organization, and Go Wol never hesitated to provide information to them.
“The Pungcheon Cult Leader broke the Soul-Seizing Technique placed on the Soul-Seizing Demon Lord. He also took care of the mastermind.”
Father’s aura turned cold. Since someone had dared to touch a Demon Lord of the Cult, he was naturally displeased.
“It seems they are in league with the one who plotted at the Murim Alliance before. We also discovered that they have infiltrated the Pungcheon Cult. I believe I need to go to the Outer Regions with the Pungcheon Cult Leader.”
Father nodded.
“Take the Demon Buddha with you.”
He truly left no openings. Father knew exactly that the Demon Buddha was the perfect counter against illusions.
“And when you return, let’s have a meal with your older brother—the three of us.”
He wasn't just talking about eating. He was telling me to look after my brother, no matter how busy I was.
“The meal is on me!”
*
The next morning, we all gathered.
The group heading to the Pungcheon Cult consisted of my guards, the Pungcheon Cult Leader, and the Demon Buddha.
Since Father had ordered it, the Demon Buddha would have had to go even if he didn't want to, but it seemed he had already reached an agreement with the Pungcheon Cult Leader.
“It’s truly reassuring to have the Demon Buddha with us,” I said.
“I’m sure there were many other Demon Lords you wanted to take instead of me,” the Demon Buddha replied.
There was no point in lying; he’d see right through it.
“There were a few. But our Cult Leader insisted that he wanted to go with you, Demon Buddha.”
I glanced at the Pungcheon Cult Leader standing nearby. He was looking elsewhere, pretending not to hear, but I could see his ears twitching.
“He said that you would protect us better than any other Demon Lord.”
The two of them were acting awkward and didn't speak to each other, but they didn't seem uncomfortable either.
The Pungcheon Cult Leader and the Demon Buddha. It was a combination that seemed like it should fit, yet didn't.
Just then, Jeok-yeon arrived and reported.
“Everything is ready for departure.”
As we were about to board the prepared carriage, someone arrived. Unexpectedly, it was the Poison King.
“Poison King! You came all this way just to see me off?”
The Poison King ignored my warm greeting. He only had eyes for one person.
He gave the Pungcheon Cult Leader a perfunctory nod and went straight to the Demon Buddha. Surprisingly, he had come to see him.
“I heard you are leaving for the Outer Regions.”
“I’m going to the Pungcheon Cult with the Young Cult Leader.”
“Then I have a favor to ask.”
The Poison King pulled several sheets of paper from his robe.
“I only found out you were leaving last night, so I stayed up all night making these.”
Indeed, his eyes were bloodshot and his hair was a mess.
The papers he handed over had drawings of various poisonous herbs. Not only their appearance, but also detailed notes on where they grew and their characteristics.
“These are poisonous herbs that grow in the Outer Regions. If you happen to see them, I ask this of you.”
The Demon Buddha let out a hearty laugh at the request. The Poison King was likely the only person who could treat him like an errand boy. Regardless, it was the first time I had seen the Demon Buddha laugh so boisterously.
“Very well. If I see them, I will be sure to dig them up for you.”
The Poison King’s expression brightened instantly.
“Ah, I’m a bit sorry about this, but...” The Poison King pulled out a few more sheets of paper. “I left these out because I thought it was too many. But since you’re going anyway, perhaps these as well... Ah, is it too much? I’ll pick just a few. This one is essential...”
The Poison King agonized over which ones to choose.
Then, the Demon Buddha took all the papers from his hand.
“Give them all to me.”
“Will you really?”
“That way, I might be able to bring back at least one more, wouldn't I?”
I could feel it. The Poison King was genuinely happy. He was a man who was truly sincere when it came to his craft.
“Wait, why didn't you ask me?” I cut in.
“The Demon Buddha is someone who sees things you cannot,” the Poison King snapped. “Just go and try not to get in the way.”
I couldn't let that slide. I shouted at the Demon Buddha, “You’re being used! Once he doesn't need any more poisonous herbs, you’ll be discarded just like me!”
The Demon Buddha flipped through the papers and looked at me. “Will there ever come a day when the Poison King doesn't need poisonous herbs?”
I saw the Poison King wear a strange smile at those words. In this moment, the Poison King had stepped out of his own isolated world into reality. I liked the Poison King when he stood near this boundary.
“I shall be off then,” the Demon Buddha said.
Instead of telling him to be careful, the Poison King said, “Make sure you dig them up and return.”
My eyes met the Poison King’s as he turned around.
“Aren't you going to say goodbye to me?”
“You’ll obviously be fine.”
The word 'obviously' contained the full weight of his trust in me.
“Since you’re already out, why don't you come with us?”
“No. I loathe sand dust.”
“The papers you gave him are a mountain of things to dig up in that very sand!”
The Poison King hurried away without looking back.
The Demon Buddha, who had been smiling faintly at the sight, folded the drawings and tucked them into his robe.
“When did you become so close with the Poison King?”
I thought the Pungcheon Cult Leader might be feeling a tiny bit of jealousy. After all, he probably thought he was the closest to the Demon Buddha.
“We aren't close,” the Demon Buddha replied.
“Then why are you granting such a favor?”
“I’m going all the way to the Outer Regions even though I’m not close to you, aren't I?”
The Pungcheon Cult Leader retorted to the cold response. “Don't change too much.”
“Look who’s talking.”
With these two bickering before we even started, it was time to depart.
“Now, let’s go pull up some hidden poisonous herbs.”