Chapter 343: Comeback (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 343: Comeback (3)
Whoosh!
Qi erupted from my upper dantian, flooding out from my body in a torrent. As it left me, it transformed into blistering heat before igniting into roaring flames. I could feel the very color of my hair shifting.
Whoosh!
A ring of fire spun around me at impossible speeds. Then, a second ring materialized. The pressure inside my body intensified as my Qi raged unchecked. A single misstep in its flow could have made me cough blood, yet I felt no fear. My body, tempered by the Fusion Realm, could withstand the strain. I was ready.
I spoke a single name into the inferno.
“Red Heaven.”
Swoooosh-!
The rings of flame and the ambient heat shot upwards as one. They swirled together, merging into a colossal tornado of fire that climbed higher and higher, piercing the blackened sky above.
Craaack-!
Hm.
I watched the spectacle unfold. It was like watching fire slowly melt through a frozen lake. Is it really that fragile? It felt like a Formation of some sort, but something was off. I hadn’t expected it to break so easily.
Was it because I had broken through my own limits? Probably not. It hadn't been difficult to shatter, not when there was already a crack. What’s going on here?
I wondered how much time had passed in this world while I was trapped in the Abyss. A few days, I guessed. I hadn't kept track of the days in that false reality, but it was my best estimate. What could have happened in just a few days? I had no way of knowing yet.
It had been years since I last set foot in the Central Plains, yet it didn’t feel unfamiliar. Considering the hardships I’d endured in my past life due to the World Tree’s tasks, this almost felt preferable. Or perhaps this sense of belonging was just another mark the tree had left on me.
I closed my eyes, letting the thoughts swirl. Enough. I set them aside. I could ponder everything once the fight was over. This was a lesson beaten into me through long hours of mental discipline. I’d known the theory before, but now I could finally put it into practice. Though my Qi raged and heat poured from my body, my mind was an oasis of calm.
Crack.
Fragments began to rain down from the sky. I hadn’t been strong enough to shatter it completely. I’d only managed to break the section of sky directly above the Heavenly Dragon Academy. Through the newly formed crack, the Red Heaven was visible.
This was one of the Gu Clan’s Secret Arts, an ability I could finally wield thanks to reaching the Fusion Realm. This was the power of Red Heaven. The sky was painted a deep red, like a perpetual sunset. It was different from the blood-red sky of the Abyss; the faint pinkish tint was likely an influence of the Taoist Qi within me.
I nodded, gazing upwards. I’ve finally reached it. I confirmed once more that I had truly entered the Fusion Realm. After surviving the graveyard of martial artists known as the Peak Realm, after enduring countless struggles, I had finally arrived. My five senses were fundamentally different. Compared to the Peak Realm, everything felt denser, more vivid. My perception had broadened and sharpened. Because of this, I could now sense the vast amount of Unorthodox Qi saturating the area.
An ambush? What kind of madmen would dare ambush the Heavenly Dragon Academy? Then again, bastards from the Unorthodox Faction were known for their insanity, so perhaps it wasn't so strange. That likely included the man standing before me.
He had a physique reminiscent of the First Elder’s—a body that transcended the ordinary, large and powerful like a bear. I guessed he wielded a greatsword. I recalled the Black Palace martial artist I’d killed on Mount Hua. Silent Iron, huh? Judging by its jet-black blade, it was an extremely high-quality weapon.
His level… It was the Fusion Realm. The fact that I couldn't get a clear grasp of his power suggested he was at an extreme level within that realm. And judging by the bloody state of the Qinghai Sword, who lay defeated on the ground, this old man was responsible for that, too.
Who is he? Monsters of the Unorthodox Faction who reached the Fusion Realm were usually infamous. Could he be one of the Four Emperors or Five Kings? Did any of them use a greatsword?
“Red Heaven…”
The old man’s mutter interrupted my thoughts.
“I’ve felt this Qi before… You bastard. You’re of the Gu Clan bloodline.”
“You recognize it?”
“There’s only one clan that can dye the sky red with flame. How could I not know?”
I felt a flicker of pride that he’d identified it from the technique's signature alone. However, he’s seen Red Heaven before? He was aware of the ability. Was it my father? If not, perhaps my grandfather. Either was possible. In the end, it didn’t matter. Even if he had seen it before, this is going to attract a lot of attention. With the flames and the red sky, it was impossible to miss.
The heat painting the sky red began to slowly descend, pressing down heavily on the surroundings. My Red Heaven was gradually expanding its territory. The names of the Gu Clan’s Secret Arts were all literal, and Red Heaven felt somewhat arrogant to me. It was an ability that released flames from the upper dantian to create a territory of fire—a domain where the sky burns red, and everything beneath it is incinerated without a trace. In a way, it was a martial art that embodied the clan's spirit.
Similarly, the Namgung Clan had the Master of Swords. It maximized their presence and suppressed their opponents completely. That was how they expanded their control. The Gu Clan’s method was to paint the sky red, an absurdly difficult technique that required unlocking the upper dantian to even attempt.
I wonder how far I’ve come. I clenched my fist a few times, feeling the power coursing through me. Since the start of my regression, I estimated I’d regained about half the strength I’d possessed in my past life. Maybe a little less. Was that fast or slow? I wasn’t sure. There was still a long, long way to go.
“You bastard…”
The old man glared at me as he spoke.
“So you are the Tiger Warrior, huh?”
Hm? I raised an eyebrow, surprised to hear my father’s title.
“But as I recall, the Tiger Warrior isn’t free to leave Shanxi so easily.”
“Do I look that old to you?” My father was getting on in years, but as a master martial artist, he certainly didn’t look it. And I definitely didn't look like him.
“If you’re not the Tiger Warrior… then could you be the True Dragon?”
The old man’s eyes widened as he realized the truth. I nodded.
“Impossible…” he stared at me, stunned. “I heard you’re not even twenty.”
“And?”
“Then… how… how did you break through the wall?”
Ah, so that was it. Even if you searched all the records of the Central Plains, no one had ever reached the Fusion Realm before the age of twenty. His reaction wasn't surprising. Personally, I felt nothing about it. It’s not that impressive, because of my regression. Others might see me as a genius, the very thing I had desperately desired in my past life. Now, I felt nothing. Ironic.
I nodded, my tone blunt. “That’s the least of your worries right now.”
I intensified the heat within my body. It grew hotter as it merged with my Combat Qi.
Ha. Straight into a fight the moment I returned to the normal world. Would I ever know peace?
Sensing my Combat Qi, the old man’s eyebrows shot up in shock. “What a brash child. Are you not even going to ask who I am?”
“What would I do with that information?” I’d already said it. “I don’t enjoy exchanging words with Unorthodox Faction scum.” There was no point talking to this kind of trash. If I wanted information, I’d just cut off his arms and legs until he talked. There was no need for kindness.
“The only thing that matters is that you are my enemy.”
“Why assume that? It’s possible I am not an enemy.”
I smirked, a clear mockery. “If you’re going to say that, you might want to hide the killing intent in your eyes.”
The old man’s expression turned sharp and cold. I had exchanged enough words.
The Black Dragon had heard all about the True Dragon. He was the son of the famous Tiger Warrior. Not only that, he was the child whose actions had led to the death of Gu Changjun, a event the Black Dragon himself had exploited. Thanks to that, his relationship with the Palace Lord had soured, though he wasn't too concerned.
He was the youngest to ever reach the Peak Realm. His talent was remarkable enough to be recorded in the annals of the Central Plains, but he was still, after all, just a Young Prodigy. For this reason, the Black Dragon had believed the boy posed no real threat. Moreover, he saw it as a bonus—getting rid of the Tiger Warrior’s son while achieving his goal of massacring the Heavenly Dragon Academy. Even if he flew high, he was still just a baby tiger.
However,
Whoosh! Slam!
“Ugh…!”
The fist that struck his greatsword landed with explosive force. The Qi packed into that blow was no small matter. The Black Dragon’s heavy body lifted slightly off the ground.
Did that tiny fist just lift me?
He masked his shock and charged his Qi. The kid’s attack was stronger than expected, but not enough to break his defenses. All he had to do was counterattack and—
Swoosh-!
“…!”
The Black Dragon’s eyes trembled as he felt a sudden, powerful surge of Qi.
While he was still airborne, the True Dragon began compressing an incredible amount of Qi into his palm.
“Flaming Sphere.”
He gathered heat, formed it into a marble-sized sphere, clenched it in his fist, and struck the same spot on the greatsword he’d hit before. The moment the sphere made contact,
Craaackggk-!
A deafening explosive sound echoed.
Boom-!
A massive eruption of Qi-fueled heat instantly turned the flat ground into rubble.
The Black Dragon rose from the swirling smoke and heat. “Ugh…!”
Swoosh-!
He generated a gust of Qi to sweep away the flames, but the fire clung to him. There was something unique within them.
Unbelievable.
He glanced at the collision point. It was a mess. Flames were scattered everywhere, and a crater as if from a meteor impact dominated the ground. At its center stood a figure wreathed in flame, his eyes the same color as his hair, glaring motionlessly at the Black Dragon.
“You bastard…”
The Black Dragon frowned. This was no mere Young Prodigy. How was this possible?
He pushed his thoughts aside and raised his greatsword high. This was unexpected. He had to kill the boy quickly. Even if they were both in the Fusion Realm, this brat had only just broken through his limits. The Black Dragon was certain the kid was no match for him, talent or not. He had to end it now.
Then,
“You seem deep in thought.”
The True Dragon’s voice echoed from behind him. The Black Dragon flinched in surprise. His gaze had been fixed on the flames, but the True Dragon had long since left that spot. He turned around. His greatsword was enhanced, shrouded in a terrifying black aura. This was his martial art, the Black Steel of Death. Its supreme Sword Force was something no martial artist could block with ease.
Smash-!
“Ugh!”
But all that power was meaningless if it didn't connect. The greatsword never reached its target. Before its heavy force could cleave the True Dragon, the young man’s fist struck the Black Dragon’s face first. Blood trickled down. The fist had broken through his defensive aura and landed a solid blow. Just as the Black Dragon’s head snapped back,
Clench-!
The True Dragon seized him by the hair, holding his head steady.
Then,
Smash-!
His flame-enhanced fist struck again, even harder.
Smash-!
Another blow.
Pow-!
Yet another.
“Kugh…!”
The Black Dragon groaned, feeling his head might burst. His brain rattled. The impacts were brutal, but the flames made it worse. He kept trying to shield himself with his aura, but nothing worked. He would have lost consciousness if not for his Qi keeping him alert.
Crack.
He gritted his teeth.
I, the Black Dragon, am being humiliated by this brat…!
Not by the Sword Venerable he longed to kill, nor by any of the Hundred Masters of the Central Plains, but by a little brat who wasn't even twenty. His anger peaked. He couldn’t allow this to continue.
Rumble.
He gathered his Qi into a single point. He needed to break free, even if it meant enduring recoil. He would release a burst of Qi to create distance.
Black Steel’s Screech.
A technique that used the black aura to unleash a deafening, explosive sound in all directions. He knew it would backlash, but he had no choice. Just as he was about to unleash it, the True Dragon suddenly paused. Had he sensed the Black Dragon’s intention?
It’s too late. The attack was already prepared. The True Dragon would be severely injured at this range. With that, the Black Dragon began his attack.
Black Steel’s Scre…?
His face twisted in confusion. A strange sensation ran through his body. His Qi and aura weren’t listening to his commands.
“…What?”
Only then did he start to question the bizarre situation. He was being overpowered by a novice Fusion Realm martial artist who had even slipped behind him. None of this made sense.
Then…
“What.”
The True Dragon halted his attacks, staring down. “Is your body not moving or something?”
The Black Dragon lifted his head. Blood covered his face, making it hard to see, but the bastard’s eyes were clearly visible. Gazing into them was like staring into a furnace. How could such red eyes suit someone so well? Blood dripped from the True Dragon’s hand—the Black Dragon’s blood.
“…You… bastard.”
“Not bad.”
“Wait, you…!” The Black Dragon finally realized the True Dragon was behind the strange sensation. Was it poison? Impossible. He would have noticed immediately, and it wouldn't have spread so naturally.
“What did you…!”
Slam!
“Hugh…!”
A powerful blow to his chest sent the Black Dragon flying, tumbling across the ground. Even as he flew, he felt the intense heat saturating the area. He barely managed to stand, breathing roughly as he checked his body. It was as he feared. His movements were sluggish. His Qi was the same. Not frozen, but strangely slowed.
“…What did you do?” Had he really used poison? But how in such a short time? The Black Dragon stared in shock, his eyes darting around. The Qinghai Sword, who he had fought earlier, still lay bloodied on the ground, not far from the battle. He could easily die from the explosions of the True Dragon’s attacks.
…That bastard.
The Black Dragon sensed a stark difference. The Qinghai Sword was a Fusion Realm expert. The Black Dragon wasn't even sure he could have won easily against him, yet the Qinghai Sword had been defeated, losing an arm and nearly his life because he had others to protect. The foolishness of the Orthodox Faction, sacrificing themselves for justice, disgusted the Black Dragon.
But I see none of that in the True Dragon.
His opponent showed no such sentiment. Instead, he wore an emotionless expression, exuded dense killing intent, wielded relentless Combat Qi, and moved with violent disregard for his surroundings. Was he truly from the Orthodox Faction? The Black Dragon wouldn't have found it strange if he were from the Unorthodox Faction. Was he really the son of the Tiger Warrior?
“You bastaard…!”
“Why do you keep screaming? You’re hurting my ears.”
“Just what are you!”
The True Dragon looked quizzical at the roar. He then opened his palm.
Swooosh-!
“…!”
A massive wave of Qi, far stronger than before, filled the air. The Black Dragon felt a gust pass his cheek before funneling into the young man’s palm. The surrounding heat began to gather there.
Whoosh-!
The flames surrounding the True Dragon and the area converged, forming a sphere. A circular shape took form above his palm. It resembled the small marble he’d used earlier, but this was far larger and packed with immeasurably more Qi. The Black Dragon’s jaw dropped.
What is that…?
It was impossibly large to be held in a hand. Yes. That was a sun. The True Dragon held the sun itself. The Black Dragon could only stare in shock at the unbelievable power.
“Now I’m satisfied. I was always annoyed by how small it was,” the True Dragon muttered quietly to himself. “You asked me what I was, right?”
The Black Dragon’s shoulders shook at the dense, steady voice. His presence was completely different. This was no mere Young Prodigy.
“I’m not sure myself.”
The Black Dragon raised his greatsword, charging his Qi. He knew he couldn’t block that attack. He had to get out of its range. As he moved his feet, the True Dragon’s hand tracked his movements.
“So I’ll begin finding out from here on.”
As the True Dragon moved his hand, the small sun crashed into the ground.