Chapter 419: One Fist
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 419: One Fist
SLAM!
A giant hurtled through the air, accompanied by a heavy, meaty sound.
“Ugh!”
Tang Duk grunted, barely managing to land on his feet. Shock coursed through him as he stared ahead.
His eyes widened at the sight before him, then darted around. Something was wrong.
The faint stars in the night sky seemed to shrink away, hiding themselves. As their pinpricks of light vanished, an oppressive darkness descended upon the forest.
Silence fell.
Even the crickets in the grass fell dead silent.
This sudden, unnatural quiet put all of Tang Duk’s senses on high alert. He knew, instinctively, that he was in grave danger.
What’s going on?
He realized this was a deliberate effect, but he still had to assess his situation. First…
I’ll break through with pure force.
Just as Tang Duk prepared to make a heavy swing with his spear, he froze.
“…!” Something felt off.
It’s heavy.
His body moved sluggishly, as if pushing through mud. Channeling his strength felt laborious. Was this the doing of the mysterious energy field surrounding him?
Crack!
Gritting his teeth, Tang Duk swung his spear anyway. Even restrained, he was far from weak.
SWOOSH!
His spear, infused with Qi, cut harshly through the air, unleashing a sharp, powerful wave of energy.
CRACK!
Trees in its path were cleanly severed. As his attack landed, Tang Duk’s eyes scanned his surroundings frantically.
He had to find him.
The one responsible for creating this situation.
Where are you? Show yourself!
But his search was unnecessary. The person he sought had never intended to hide.
There.
A blaze…
In the distance, a solitary black flame burned within the thick darkness. Its very presence was a declaration, a beacon announcing his location.
Hah.
Tang Duk couldn’t help but let out a dry, humorless laugh. He was speechless.
So the rumors about him being the greatest prodigy were true.
How could someone barely twenty years old possess such an overwhelming aura?
Gu Yangcheon watched Tang Duk, his form wreathed in black flames that radiated a palpable pressure. Despite their dark hue, the flames possessed a sinister, mesmerizing beauty. Yet, for all their visual allure, the ominous energy they contained was anything but sacred.
How did he command such fire? It was just flame, yet Tang Duk felt an instinctive, primal fear stir within him.
Moreover, Gu Yangcheon’s eyes had transformed; his once-black pupils now shone with a violet light, set against sclera as dark as pitch.
…What is he?
His bizarre appearance alone was overwhelming.
What kind of creature was this?
The Heavenly Demon, huh?
That was the title the Lesser King of Hell had given himself. Heavenly Demon. A demon sent from the heavens? It wasn't even an official title, so why use it?
Yet, facing him now, Tang Duk thought the title fit disturbingly well. The young man before him looked every bit a demon.
A thought surfaced, unbidden. He was reminded of something Tang Bi Seung had coveted so desperately.
The Celestial Martial Body.
A talent so overpowering it allowed one to become the youngest Fusion Realm expert in history. A presence that instilled fear in opponents and crushed their will.
If Gu Yangcheon wasn’t the very embodiment of what Tang Bi Seung had tried to create, then what was?
Crack.
Tang Duk ground his teeth at the thought. Without realizing it, a bitter notion crossed his mind: if he had possessed such talent, he would never have been cast out from the Tang Clan.
His plan was to tear the Tang Clan apart, to annihilate them completely. He wanted to erase the very name "Tang" from the world, and yet… a lingering attachment to his past remained.
Wake up.
Tang Duk steeled his resolve and pointed his spear toward the black flames.
I’ll kill them all.
It didn’t matter if the bastard before him was a demon or possessed the Celestial Martial Body. It didn’t matter that he knew of Tang Duk’s past. The only thing that mattered was that he stood in the way of revenge.
To destroy everything in his path—that was the purpose for which he had honed his strength.
SLAM!
His spear cut through the air. A powerful Qi wrapped around the blade, causing it to glow with a green light. This radiance had nothing to do with Poison Art; it was merely a faint, residual trace of the Tang Clan that remained within Tang Duk’s body.
The spear, enhanced by the green Qi, traced a fluid arc through the air as it released its energy.
Dragon Spear.
It was the most basic spear technique of the Murim Alliance—common, easy to learn, the foundation for all spearmen. It was the only martial technique Tang Duk had ever learned, the one he had mastered out of sheer necessity to survive.
Because it was all he had, he had practiced it relentlessly, grinding it to perfection until he miraculously reached the Fusion Realm with this very technique. Achieving such a lofty realm with a common technique was a testament to Tang Duk’s incredible natural physique.
Seeing the attack, Gu Yangcheon moved.
CLANG!
“…!”
He deflected the massive spearhead with his bare fist. Without a moment’s hesitation, he pressed forward with aggressive, harsh movements.
Tang Duk was shocked for an instant, but he quickly spun his body, correcting his spear’s position. In that brief moment, Gu Yangcheon gave him no quarter, his fist already shooting toward Tang Duk’s torso.
Black Fiery Fangs of the Beast.
Starting from his hand, giant flames shaped like a wolf’s maw charged at Tang Duk.
ROAR!
An overwhelming torrent of fire erupted, engulfing everything in a wide radius. The area instantly became a chaotic inferno, but Gu Yangcheon’s gaze was already looking to the side, not at the conflagration ahead.
He opened his hand. In an instant, intense heat condensed into a single point. A moment later, the condensed energy took the form of a marble.
It was similar to the Flaming Spheres he had used in the past, but now it was far more defined—a pitch-black sphere vibrating with barely contained power.
Rotation.
Gu Yangcheon hadn’t forgotten what his father had taught him. When he focused on the rotation of his Qi, his techniques felt stronger.
He looked ahead with this thought. He could no longer feel Tang Duk’s presence within the area consumed by the black flames. Despite his large frame, the giant had managed to evade the attack swiftly.
Where did he go? Gu Yangcheon didn’t ponder long. If he didn’t know his opponent’s location, he would simply destroy all possible paths of escape.
Without hesitation, Gu Yangcheon hurled the black sphere at the ground.
WOONG!
The Flaming Sphere vibrated violently upon impact.
SWOOSH! Then, it exploded, releasing a hellish amount of heat that began to devour everything in sight. The black flames were terrifying enough, but the tornado-like shockwave that accompanied the blast was equally devastating.
Trees near the epicenter were ripped from the ground by the wind, only to be instantly incinerated to ash by the ensuing flames.
After the explosion, as the brief storm subsided, Gu Yangcheon stood in the same spot, looking around. Everything was ruins, except for the ground beneath his feet.
Not far away, the giant knelt, spear in hand, staring intently at Gu Yangcheon.
“Huff… Hah…”
He seemed largely unharmed, having protected himself with a Qi barrier, but his ragged breathing indicated he hadn’t escaped unscathed.
The sight sent a jolt of shock through Gu Yangcheon.
I was right to be worried.
This bastard’s cultivation level was definitely below the Black Dragon’s, but his resistance to Demonic Qi was significantly higher. It seemed Gu Yangcheon’s hypothesis was correct: demon blood granted a degree of immunity to Demonic Qi.
That was a serious problem.
Moreover, he could sense Tang Duk’s movements becoming quicker. Was he already adapting?
To my Demonic Qi?
With that thought, Gu Yangcheon manipulated the Demonic Qi he had already forced into Tang Duk’s body. He felt the invasive energy inside Tang Duk’s Dantian begin to swirl violently, trying to run rampant.
Did Tang Duk notice? Gu Yangcheon felt him immediately block and suppress the Qi. That reaction confirmed Gu Yangcheon’s assumption.
It was clear Tang Duk felt it too, as he rose to his feet, rubbing his abdomen. He seemed more comfortable than before, a smile playing on his lips.
“So it’s not poison.”
“Why would you think that?”
“If it were, I wouldn’t still be standing here.”
Real poison would have been critical for Tang Duk, but Gu Yangcheon hadn’t anticipated the demon blood would grant him such a favor.
“I admit it, Lesser King of Hell.”
“…Admit what?”
“You are strong. I’m genuinely shocked. To display such power at your age…”
“Get to the point.”
Tang Duk’s smile turned terrifying. “I could tell from your attack just now. However, you are still weak—at least, compared to me.”
“…”
SWISH!
He made a short, sharp swing with his spear, sending out a wave of energy. The wind pressure blew away all the lingering black flames around him.
Gu Yangcheon admitted it to himself. He knew he was weaker than Tang Duk from the start, and the ineffectiveness of his Demonic Qi put him in serious danger.
He could use more Demonic Qi, but it was a massive risk. Overpowering an opponent like Tang Duk would require an extreme amount, and Tang Duk’s giant physique meant he needed even more than usual. A protracted fight was becoming increasingly disadvantageous.
Gu Yangcheon knew this. Tang Duk likely knew it too.
After his initial shock and anger, Tang Duk now radiated confidence. He truly believed he would win.
Seeing this, Gu Yangcheon smirked. He was indeed in danger due to these unexpected circumstances, but for some reason, he felt no worry. It didn’t affect his emotions.
He did feel a twinge of disappointment, however.
I guess my usual method isn’t going to work.
He realized he wouldn’t succeed by relying on his standard approach. With that thought, he deliberately decreased the intensity of his Gu Flame Wheel Art.
“Hmm?”
Tang Duk couldn’t help but scoff at the diminishing flames. “What, are you giving up no—”
He cut his mockery short, immediately gripping his spear tighter and falling back into a defensive stance. He felt a change in Gu Yangcheon.
Huh?
The ominous, overwhelming presence was still there, but now it felt as if something was wrapping around it all. No, perhaps it was better to say Gu Yangcheon was now standing on a more solid foundation.
Tang Duk didn’t understand, but he was certain something fundamental had shifted.
Crack.
Watching Tang Duk’s reaction, Gu Yangcheon began to move, stretching his body as if working out kinks.
It’s painful.
He had hoped he might not feel anything, but the pain was as disgustingly intense as he’d expected. Gu Yangcheon was now channeling a new combination of energies.
He filled his heart with Demonic Qi, wrapped his body in the Gu Flame Wheel Art, and then encased his entire being with the Heaven Destruction Art.
He remembered the Dishonored Venerable’s warning not to use this in real combat, but he pushed those words aside for now.
Combining all three resulted in excruciating pain—that was his first thought. Yet, paradoxically, he also felt a sense of comfort, born from being so accustomed to such sensations.
Was he used to the pain, or to the Qi itself? He didn’t know, but it felt familiar.
So, using all three at once isn’t an immediate problem?
Gu Yangcheon moved slowly, testing the limits of this new state. He had used two simultaneously before, but all three was uncharted territory. Contrary to his worries, no major issues arose—for now.
There was one difference: his Combat Qi was beginning to boil.
He observed Tang Duk. The giant had noticed the aura of the Heaven Destruction Art and was growing cautious.
He’s pretty sharp.
It should have been invisible, yet Tang Duk sensed the change and tensed up. With that thought, Gu Yangcheon took a step forward.
His body continued to boil with energy, but his mind cooled down. As his Combat Qi raged, his gaze grew colder and more focused.
Why this change? Was it because of the Heaven Destruction Art? It didn’t feel like it.
Whatever the reason, it doesn’t matter.
All that mattered was the opponent in front of him.
Tang Duk watched Gu Yangcheon’s approach with extreme caution. He didn’t know what to expect, and the strange sensation persisted.
What’s happening now?
How many surprises did this bastard have? A monstrous appearance, terrifying Qi, and now something else layered on top.
As Tang Duk gulped nervously, Gu Yangcheon vanished from his sight.
“…!”
Tang Duk moved instantly, swinging his spear. He might have lost visual contact, but he hadn’t lost track of Gu Yangcheon’s presence. It was clearly coming from his—
POW!
“Ugh!?”
Tang Duk had sensed a presence at his flank, but a fist dug straight into his abdomen from the front. What was that? His whole body vibrated from the impact. Thankfully, he managed to withstand it.
Without breaking his posture, Tang Duk immediately countered with his spear technique.
TAP!
But before he could complete the motion, Gu Yangcheon reached out, his hand lightly brushing against the spear shaft and subtly altering its trajectory.
The adjustment seemed minimal, but the result was catastrophic.
SWISH!
Due to that tiny interference, the Qi flow from Tang Duk’s body scattered chaotically, his attack failing and leaving a wide opening.
“Shit!”
How… unbelievable!
Tang Duk immediately tried to create distance.
TAP.
But Gu Yangcheon was faster. A fist, relatively tiny compared to Tang Duk’s massive frame, made contact with his chest.
The touch was light, almost gentle. Gu Yangcheon simply placed his fist against Tang Duk’s chest. Yet, Tang Duk knew.
Something was about to happen from the tip of that small fist.
WOONG…
First, a minuscule impact traveled through him. The fist, wreathed in flame, imprinted a tiny vibration deep within Tang Duk’s body. It was so small it felt almost kind, as if it would cause no damage.
But that feeling lasted only an instant.
As Tang Duk’s body began to be pushed back, creating distance from Gu Yangcheon, the implanted impact revealed its true nature.
CRGGGK!
CRAAASH!
“AGGGHHHH!”
A violent vibration devoured Tang Duk’s entire body, throwing his blood vessels and Qi into disarray. The heat contained within the vibration only magnified the agony.
SLAM! SLAM! SLAM! SLAM!
Dozens of internal impacts exploded within Tang Duk’s body in the span of a single second. Then, as if frustrated by the confines of his flesh, the accumulated force burst outward.
SWOOSH!
The shockwave erupted from Tang Duk’s back, obliterating everything behind him. A great wind, laden with heat, blasted forth, carving a massive scar in the landscape directly behind the giant.
As the explosive force subsided,
THUD…
Tang Duk fell to his knees. His eyes had rolled back, showing only whites—he had clearly lost consciousness. Then, his gigantic body tipped over and crashed heavily to the ground.
SLAM!
The moment Tang Duk collapsed, unconscious,
“…Cough.”
As if he had been waiting for it, Gu Yangcheon coughed up a mouthful of blood.
SPLAT!
Blood stained the earth.
The first technique of the Heaven Destruction Art—One Fist. Gu Yangcheon was now feeling its severe aftermath.
His consciousness wavered. His blood vessels and Qi ran wild inside him due to the recoil.
Fuck.
It felt like he might collapse at any second. He wasn’t overly worried about his body; the Heaven Destruction Art would repair it automatically. But losing consciousness now was a critical problem.
Tang Duk wasn’t dead yet. His body was heavily damaged, but if he woke up first, it would be disastrous for Gu Yangcheon.
Clutching onto that thought, Gu Yangcheon fought to maintain his awareness, but the overwhelming pain pushed him to his limit.
Just as he was about to crumple to the ground,
TAP.
Someone suddenly appeared, supporting Gu Yangcheon and preventing his fall.
“Sigh…”
The one holding him up let out a deeply disappointed sigh, his voice hollow. “I finally take in a disciple at my age, and he turns out to be this insane… Tsk, tsk.”
It was the Dishonored Venerable.