Chapter 755: There Will Be No Such Thing in This Fight
Chapter 755: There Will Be No Such Thing in This Fight
A fierce fighting spirit radiated from the One Flower Sword Venerable.
Just as she was about to step forward—
"Wait."
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon walked up to her and held out a jar of Golden Wound Medicine.
"Wounds don't heal as quickly once you reach our age."
The One Flower Sword Venerable’s smoldering fighting spirit subsided slightly. "What are you doing? You're breaking my rhythm."
"Relax a little. You're far too tense right now."
Behind the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, Geom Mu-geuk nodded in agreement.
"He is an opponent I cannot possibly defeat unless I give it my absolute all, you know?"
At her high praise for the Sword King, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon spoke calmly. "Even so, relax."
How could she not know that this was his way of showing concern?
The One Flower Sword Venerable opened the Golden Wound Medicine, dabbed some on her finger, and applied it to her shoulder. Even though she simply reached inside her robes to apply it, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon turned his back to grant her privacy.
Meanwhile, Geom Mu-geuk teased the Sword King. "What should we do, Brother Ak? Your most charming feature is that tightly tied hair of yours."
The Sword King felt the back of his neck, where his hair was gathered. "I’ll be lucky if it’s only my hair that gets cut."
It was his way of admitting the fight wouldn't be easy.
"So you do know how to play coy."
"And whose fault do you think that is?"
In moments of conversation like this, he was exactly the same Sword King as before.
Geom Mu-geuk looked at the Sound King standing behind him. The Sound King looked relaxed, swaying his upper body slowly from side to side as if listening to music only he could hear, his long arms swinging to and fro.
After watching him quietly for a moment, Geom Mu-geuk spoke up abruptly. "She’s beautiful."
"Who? That woman?"
"No. That woman who likes you, Brother Ak. She’s incredibly beautiful."
"Is that so?" Ak Gun-hak pretended not to know who he was talking about, even though he knew perfectly well.
"Yes."
Geom Mu-geuk said no more. The Sword King knew exactly why he had brought her up now.
Brother Ak, I’m going to take you back to the Main Cult. I’m definitely going to witness that awkward meeting between the two of you.
The One Flower Sword Venerable stepped forward again, and Geom Mu-geuk retreated to the back. He called out to her one last time.
"Please snip off that ponytail. So he can’t go on about his 'freedom' anymore. I’m going to make him wear shoes, too."
"Understood. Leave it to me."
The Blade King watched the scene with blatant disapproval. The person he loathed most was Ak Gun-hak. For a long time, the Dark Palace Master had held Ak Gun-hak in high regard, always entrusting him with the most critical missions.
To think he’d trust such a traitor.
He had already been dissatisfied with the Sword King, but seeing him exchange jokes with Geom Mu-geuk right before his eyes ignited a genuine murderous intent.
Once this is over, I will kill him.
Because he didn't bother to hide that killing intent, the Sword King looked back at him. "Do not forget that I am watching you."
Until now, he had maintained basic courtesy, but he had now discarded such formalities. At the warning not to try anything foolish, the Sword King simply smiled and turned back. The Blade King’s expression hardened even further.
The One Flower Sword Venerable and the Sword King faced each other once more.
Her reason for stepping forward was partly to follow the Young Cult Leader’s wish to move him out of the way, but in truth, it was also out of a greedy desire to clash with the Sword King one more time. She felt as though she would never have another chance to face this man for the rest of her life—especially not in a fight where they were both so sincere.
The One Flower Sword Venerable fully unleashed her aura.
Her aura was like a single sword—a blade aimed directly at the Sword King’s face. It was an aura that instilled intense dread, as if it might fly forward and pierce through one's skull at any moment.
A sword could evoke many emotions in an opponent: fear, elegance, terror, passion, or loneliness. Her aura was one that would be felt differently depending on the person receiving it.
The emotion the Sword King felt was passion.
He could see her beyond the sword. He saw the fervor for the blade contained in her face, which bore not a trace of makeup. He saw the intense longing to become stronger.
The Sword King knew. He knew who had planted such emotions in the faces of these Demon Lords. He knew who had made them carry such ridiculous gifts at their waists.
Sssssssss.
The Sword King also revealed his aura. It was a pressure he never showed unless he acknowledged his opponent.
In the next instant, the surroundings glittered, and the One Flower Sword Venerable’s eyes filled with astonishment. Hundreds, thousands of blade edges surrounded her. Sharp blades were packed so densely around her that it felt as if she would be cut if she moved even slightly.
She could feel it. If she moved carelessly, she would truly be sliced. The blades within this aura were sharper than real ones.
So the true Sword Tomb was right here.
The Sword King’s aura was enough to evoke such a thought. Truly, she had never experienced such a chilling aura before.
A single sword against thousands of swords. The two auras clashed in a tense standoff.
Wooooong.
The One Flower Sword Venerable injected internal energy into the One Flower Sword. A pure white Sword Force flowed along her blade. However, the Sword King did not manifest Sword Force.
He intends to block my Sword Force with that iron sword?
Anyone else would have been enraged, thinking, How dare he! But the One Flower Sword Venerable grew more tense instead. Could that sword truly withstand even Sword Force?
The result was indeed surprising.
Kaaaaang!
When the One Flower Sword and the Sword King’s iron sword collided head-on, the iron sword did not break.
It really doesn't break against Sword Force?
But her shock was brief; upon closer inspection, she felt something invisible on the Sword King’s blade. Another wave of shock washed over her.
"No-Form Sword Force!"
The Sword King’s Sword Force was one that left no trace. Since he used No-Form Sword Qi, his Sword Force was also invisible to the eye. If an opponent charged in without knowing he could use No-Form Sword Force, their sword would be severed in an instant, followed by their torso.
Kakakakakang!
The formless force and the pure white force collided. Every time the energies clashed, a massive vibration spread out. Even though it was imbued with Sword Force, it was astonishing that the iron sword could withstand both internal and external shocks. And it wasn't because the sword was special.
The man felt like a cool autumn breeze, but when he fought, he was a biting winter wind.
To think he is this strong...
The Sword King was, after all, the strongest man among the twelve masters raised by an organization that had prepared for revenge for three hundred years.
The One Flower Sword Venerable had a premonition that this fight might be the catalyst for her One Flower Sword Technique to rise from the eleventh to the twelfth-star stage. That was how much inspiration and enlightenment the battle with the Sword King was giving her.
The One Flower Sword Venerable unleashed her unique martial art.
As she moved beyond being bound by forms and carved out her own realm, the eight original forms had been reduced to only three. Once these forms disappeared entirely, she would reach the ultimate principle of swordsmanship.
The first form she had newly named was: Blooming!
As the tip of her sword trembled lightly, over a dozen streaks of Sword Qi manifested like flowers coming into bloom.
Shook, shook, shook, shook!
The Sword Qi flying toward the Sword King was no ordinary energy. Each one contained a profound mastery of swordsmanship that had reached the pinnacle of the realm.
The Sword King felt that he could never block this without using his own unique martial art.
Formless Divine Sword, 1st Sword: Formless Return to the Void.
The surrounding air shifted, and the Sword King’s sword trembled.
Whirrrrrrr!
In an instant, a whirlwind seemed to sprout from the tip of his sword. Her incoming Sword Qi was swept into the vortex and vanished.
The One Flower Sword Venerable was neither surprised nor flustered. His technique was surely a form as polished and refined as her own. She unleashed her second unique technique.
One Flower Sword Technique, 2nd Form: Falling Petals.
Like petals falling in the wind, streaks of Sword Qi swept down diagonally. They came from the most difficult angles to block!
Swaaaaaaaa!
The Sword King responded with the Formless Divine Sword once again.
Formless Divine Sword, 3rd Form: Formless Heaven Reversal.
A pitch-black space seemed to manifest in the air before the Sword King.
Whoosh.
It instantly sucked in the incoming Sword Qi and vanished. But that wasn't the end. In the next moment, darkness erupted from a tiny point, spitting back the Sword Qi it had absorbed.
Swish, swish, swish, swish!
Her own sword strikes were returning to her. She hadn't expected her own attack to be turned against her.
Papapapapak! Chang, chang, chang, chang!
Her One Flower Sword embroidered the air as her blade struck down the falling petals.
Papak!
A streak of Sword Qi she failed to block grazed her flank, and blood splattered again. This was the first time she had ever had to block her own technique.
This time, the Sword King unleashed the next form first.
Formless Divine Sword, 2nd Form: Formless Flash.
In a flash, a single line of light was drawn between the Sword King and the One Flower Sword Venerable. No, it felt as if that line had been there from the very beginning.
Simultaneously, her final form was unleashed.
One Flower Sword Technique, 3rd Form: One Flower.
It was the final, third form, named after herself. In a brilliant flash, their techniques crossed. Not a sound was heard.
Slide.
As she twisted her body to dodge, her bangs were snipped away.
Phut.
A single thin line of blood was drawn across her forehead. Was it intentional? The exact same wound she had inflicted on the Sword King’s forehead earlier now appeared on hers.
Crrraaaack!
A long diagonal line appeared on the wall behind the Sword King. The Sword King stood before it. Since the wall behind him had been cut, one might have thought his body had been sliced through as well.
Zing.
The iron sword he held out was vibrating. He had blocked even the third form.
It was right then.
Snap.
The tie holding the Sword King’s hair back was severed, and his hair spilled loose. Instead of cutting his hair, the One Flower Sword Venerable had cut the string binding it.
The two looked at each other. Again, they did not exchange formal greetings. However, their eyes were already filled with mutual respect.
It’s finally over, the One Flower Sword Venerable thought, relaxing her tension. But at that very moment—
The Blade King moved.
I knew you’d let her live again!
That was why he had been waiting for the chance to ambush her. Knowing that Ak Gun-hak would never kill her, he had been looking for his own opportunity. Now was the perfect moment to strike.
Swaaaaak!
Just as his Red Blade was about to strike the One Flower Sword Venerable’s back—
Boom!
The weapon that blocked the flying Red Blade was the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s Heaven Extermination Great Blade. The One Flower Sword Venerable had let down her guard, but the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had not. The moment the Blade King moved, he moved as well.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s rage erupted. "You dog! How dare you!"
A massive explosion of Demonic Energy and killing intent burst from the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s body. The Heaven Extermination Great Blade, imbued with Blade Force, cleaved through the air.
Swaaaaaaaaak!
The Blade King raised his twin blades to block. Having clashed several times before, he knew the power of that attack.
Boom!
The moment blade met blade, the Blade King’s eyes widened. This was a strike of such power that he hadn't seen it in their previous exchanges. It was a strike filled with the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s fury.
Boom! Bang! Boom!
The Heaven Extermination Great Blade rained down on him. Despite the powerful attacks that felt like they would break his wrists, the Blade King was rejoicing.
Yes, get excited! The more agitated you get, the more opportunities I’ll have!
Boom! Bang! Ba-bang!
The Blade King was gradually pushed back. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon surged forward like a tidal wave, swinging his blade like a madman possessed.
This old man’s strength...!
Boom! Bang! Boom!
The Dark Blood Four Blades, sensing that the Blade King was at a disadvantage, leaped into the fray simultaneously. Just as the Blade King had targeted the One Flower Sword Venerable’s back, their target was the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
In that instant, Geom Mu-geuk moved. Like a flash of light, his figure blurred past them.
Swish! Slice!
He had cut four people, but only one sound was made. The way they were cut looked as if the same scene was being played out infinitely in a hall of mirrors. Four different men were sliced simultaneously as if they were one person.
"Didn't I tell you not to lift a single finger?"
Geom Mu-geuk’s warning wasn't directed at the already dead Dark Blood Four Blades. He pointed his sword at the Iron Mask man and the Sound King.
"Don't even dream of it!"
The reason he hadn't stopped the Blade King earlier was because the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had already lunged forward. But he would absolutely not allow any other interference.
The Sound King spoke mockingly. "You won't let us in, but surely you, the Young Cult Leader, aren't planning to intervene yourself?"
"There will be no such thing in this fight."
It was a statement of absolute faith in the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
Meanwhile, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s assault continued. It was a frenzied attack, as if he had lost his sight to madness.
Boom! Bang! Boom! Boom!
However, even while driven into a corner, the Blade King smiled inwardly. Any other master would have succumbed to this momentum, but he was not so weak as to die to an agitated opponent. For a master to become this emotional meant they had already accepted defeat.
Sure enough, the opportunity arrived. Because he had struck down with such excessive fury, the blade hit the back wall and bounced off.
The Blade King did not miss that moment. His Red Blade lunged for the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s fingers, and when the grip on the Heaven Extermination Great Blade weakened as he dodged the attack—
Swaaaaak! Clang!
The Heaven Extermination Great Blade was sent flying into the air from the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s hand by the Black Blade.
It’s over!
In a fight between masters of their caliber, losing one's weapon meant the fight was finished. There would be no second chance to pick it up.
Swish! Swaaaak!
As the twin blades followed up with a barrage of attacks, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon chose not to leap back and dodge. Instead, he lunged inward and grabbed both of the Blade King's wrists.
The Blade King laughed at the succession of blunders. You’re grabbing my wrists with your bare hands?
Wooooong.
Blade Force began to shroud the Red and Black Blades. If he simply moved these blades slightly, the old man’s wrists would be severed.
"Old Demon Lord, did you fancy that woman?" His mockery didn't end with a sneer. "I shall kill you and then tear her apart while she’s still alive."
He expected to see a look of agony on his opponent's face. Instead, a mysterious smile played on the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s lips.
"Heaven Extermination Demonic Blade Form, Fifth Form: Straight Extermination Blade Strike."
"What?"
The moment the Blade King looked up with a chilling premonition, his eyes bulged.
The Heaven Extermination Great Blade, which he thought had been sent flying far away, was hovering directly above his head. It was aimed straight at him, shrouded in a vivid blue Blade Force.
His opponent hadn't been agitated like a madman. He wasn't an ignorant old fool. The foxy old man had planned for this very moment. In his fake excitement, the one who had truly become reckless was the Blade King himself.
Swaaaaaaaaak!
He tried to dodge, but he couldn't. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon had summoned his ultimate internal energy to grip his wrists tight.
Boom!
The Heaven Extermination Great Blade, plunging down like a bolt of lightning, tore through his Body Protection Qi and buried itself in his shoulder.
Crrrk! Squish!
"Aaaaaagh!"
A scream tore from the Blade King’s throat. As the massive blade sank into his shoulder, a horrific pain washed over him.
Clatter.
The Red Blade was the first to hit the ground. It was the first time he had ever dropped his blade in combat. Then, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, who was still holding his wrists, began to pull his arms apart in opposite directions.
The Blade King’s eyes stretched wide in terror. He’s trying to rip me apart.
This was no longer the time for elegant insults. "You crazy old man! Stop!"
He tried to manifest Blade Force in his Black Blade again to cut the old man's wrists, but—
Squelch!
The Heaven Extermination Great Blade lodged in his shoulder sliced through flesh and bone, sinking even deeper. Unable to bear the pain, he dropped the Black Blade as well.
Even then, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon began to pull his arms to the left and right with even greater force.
"You bastard! I said stop!"
The Blade King tried to endure by pushing his internal energy to its limit, but the Heaven Extermination Great Blade was already halfway through his body.
The Blade King saw it. Crimson Demonic Energy was flowing from the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s eyes. The madness he had shown earlier wasn't madness at all. This sight before him now was his true, hidden nature.
"...Please!"
Squish.
The Heaven Extermination Great Blade sank deeper. There was no mercy in the blade.
"AAAAAAAAGH!"
The Heaven Extermination Great Blade completely split his body in half from the shoulder down, slamming into the ground.
Splurt! Thud.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon, drenched in blood, looked down at the half of the body that still had the head attached and spoke coldly.
"If I spot you in hell, I'll kill you again."