Chapter 423: Azure Dragon River (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 423: Azure Dragon River (4)
The emergence of the Red Demons marked the beginning of countless calamities across the Central Plains.
Unlike the Green or Blue Gates of Demons, a Red Gate of Demons unleashed only a single Demon. Yet, the devastation it wrought was unimaginably horrific.
Reaching the Peak Realm had once rendered a martial artist nearly invincible against Demons, but that certainty shattered with the arrival of the Red Demons. The long-standing peace finally began to crack, and the reason was simple: Qi was useless against them.
That single fact alone plunged the world into disaster.
Swordsmen tasked with hunting Demons relied on their Qi. They needed the strength to slice through thick, leathery hides and shatter monstrous bones. Using Qi to achieve such power was second nature. But the Red Demons defied this logic.
A strange barrier protected their bodies, possessing the terrifying ability to absorb Qi. Any Qi-enhanced attack was effortlessly neutralized, leaving martial artists powerless to pierce their skin. Possessing size and strength far surpassing Blue Demons, and now immune to martial artists' primary means of offense, their rampage across the land was inevitable.
Even with only one appearing at a time, the northern territories were laid to waste, for no one could stop a single Demon. This was the meaning of true Qi immunity.
For the first time, martial artists of my past life felt utterly powerless. Yet, eventually, a solution was found. While the Red Demon's barrier did absorb Qi, it had its limits. This was discovered when the Heavenly Venerable himself hunted one down. The barrier would begin to crack after absorbing a certain amount of energy, making the Demon vulnerable.
The problem was the staggering quantity of Qi required. To merely form a crack demanded the entire Qi reserve of a Fusion Realm martial artist. In essence, hunting a Red Demon was impossible without multiple, Qi-rich Fusion Realm experts working in concert. Though hope had been found, the bar was set impossibly high, and despair began to creep back in.
Then, news broke. A Peak Realm martial artist had successfully slain a Red Demon. This occurred roughly a year after their first appearance.
Everyone asked how. Did this martial artist possess an unusually vast Qi pool for his level? The answer was no. The young man hailed from a Taoist clan. When pressed further, he replied:
[It’s not uniform. Like an ocean, where there are depths, there must also be shallows. You simply need to aim for those spots.]
His words were cryptic at first, but they soon blossomed into a beacon of hope. The barrier was not a monolithic defense. Like an ocean, it had deep, strong areas and shallow, weak points. By targeting these weaknesses, damage could be inflicted far more efficiently, breaking the barrier with less Qi.
This was how the young man hunted them. After a year of struggle, people finally had a method. But a new problem arose: finding these weak spots in an invisible barrier was incredibly difficult. How does one pinpoint something they cannot see?
When asked, the young man responded with a sleepy expression.
[I just used my feelings.]
It was an almost absurd answer. That Peak Realm martial artist, the one who hunted Red Demons in my past life, was Sleeping Dragon Woo Hyuk.
Swish!
A sword strike infused with Taoist Qi cut through the air with flawless precision, striking the serpent's scales a moment later.
Crack! Clang!
The sound was harsh, more like metal striking metal than a blade biting into flesh.
Kyaaaak!
Yet, it was enough. The Demon screamed in pain, its massive body thrashing violently in the water. Maintaining my balance with each convulsive movement was annoying. I focused my attention, observing the barrier surrounding the Demon.
It’s starting to crack.
The invisible shield was fracturing, the damage exacerbated by Woo Hyuk's recent attack. Seeing my opening, I spoke without hesitation.
“Aim for the side of its head, slightly to the right.”
Namgung Bi-ah reacted instantly. Lightning crackled and struck the exact spot I had indicated, her attack precise even with my vague command.
Zaaaap!
The lightning was absorbed by the barrier, but that was fine. It had served its purpose.
“Stab through now.”
Swish!
On cue, Wi Seol-Ah’s sword, blazing with golden light, shot forward. The moment it touched the barrier, the cracked section splintered, creating a brief opening. There was no need for further orders. Moving in tandem with Wi Seol-Ah, another figure lunged forward—Wudang’s prodigy, Woo Hyuk, unleashing an attack brimming with Taoist Qi.
Crack! Swish!
A long, deep gash opened along the snake’s body, leaking a strange bluish-green blood. The serpent shrieked and coiled tightly upon itself, its body now marred by many such wounds.
A sense of satisfaction washed over me.
Their improvement rate is terrifying.
While I directed them, the chemistry between the three was evolving at a dizzying pace. Initially, they merely took turns attacking based on my commands. Now, they were anticipating the openings, only seeking my confirmation before striking. Even though they knew when and where to attack, they still waited for my word. It was frightening.
It hasn't even been fifteen minutes.
Yet, they were already synergizing seamlessly. And I hadn't even explained how to detect the weak spots.
This is why natural talent is so daunting.
The concept of strong and weak points in the barrier, which the Sleeping Dragon had discovered in my past life, was crucial. Without exploiting these weaknesses, hunting a Red Demon required a prohibitive expenditure of Qi. The problem, of course, was perceiving these spots in the first place. It wasn't a visual task; it was a feeling. One had to sense the fluctuations in the invisible barrier.
Easy to say, but how is that even possible?
The Sleeping Dragon’s method was notoriously difficult to replicate. I recalled our conversation from that life.
[Just try to listen to it, then you’ll know. I swear.]
[You bastard… do you think it's a musical instrument? What do you mean 'listen' to it!?]
[Oh hey! Dodge!]
His awful explanation had made me grind my teeth in frustration.
People called the young prodigies of this era the Meteor Generation, but their true brilliance only became apparent with the arrival of the Red Demons. Finding a barrier's weak spot required an exceptionally sharp sensory ability and exquisite Qi control. The difference was stark: two martial artists of the same level could have vastly different success rates based on this sense alone. Speed was critical; the longer it took, the higher the chance of dying from exhaustion. Many perished even after finding the weak spots, simply because they ran out of energy.
While Fusion Realm experts fled or were devoured, it was the Peak Realm geniuses of the Meteor Generation who began to succeed. The three before me possessed talent worthy of defining this era. Even without my explicit instruction, they were learning to sense the weaknesses themselves. The Poison King and the White Ripple Sword were likely no different. Reaching the Fusion Realm itself was a testament to their extraordinary gifts.
Now then.
“From that position, move slightly left.”
One might wonder what my role was, since I was neither a genius nor a prodigy.
“Use more Qi than last time.”
But I could state with absolute confidence that no one was more professional in this specific regard than I was.
The three moved in perfect coordination following my command. I monitored the Demon’s movements as they advanced.
I was not a genius. I repeated this for a reason. In my past life, I couldn't sense the subtle differences in the barrier. As one of the Alliance's swordsmen, I struggled to hunt Red Demons and often had to rely on the Sleeping Dragon or others. This wasn't a skill achieved through hard work alone; it was an innate perception I lacked. While other slower learners eventually grasped it, I never could. I felt nothing, and others looked at me with pity—a leech clinging to the Sleeping Dragon's coattails. I heard the whispers. I didn't deny them. I wouldn't have survived without him back then, and I despised myself for my lack of talent.
“Two of you, distract it from the left. The other, flank right.”
But now, thanks to my Demon Absorption Art, I could do all of this with ease.
The power Demons wielded was, ultimately, Demonic Qi. It was why Demonic Stones contained such energy, and my art allowed me to absorb it. Perhaps that was what made the difference. I could feel Demonic Qi. What others saw as an invisible barrier, I saw as a vile, black shroud. And the strong and weak points? I didn't need to feel for them; I could see them clearly with my eyes.
After obtaining the Heavenly Demon's authority upon becoming a Demonic Human, my strength had grown faster than anyone's. As long as I encountered Demons with the right traits and of a comparable level, I could surpass all others. I had hunted them countless times in my past life. How could I not know how?
The beast was reaching its limit. By relentlessly targeting its weaknesses, we had brought its barrier to the brink of collapse. Once one spot breaks, the surrounding areas weaken. Our strategy was simple: find the weak spots and break them, one after another.
Shaaaaaa!
The monster roared, a sound thick with frustration at the relentless assaults from the three martial artists.
Thankfully, this particular Demon wasn't overwhelmingly powerful. My earlier anxiety stemmed from the shock of a Red Demon's appearance, not fear of its strength.
This should be enough.
I turned my head, seeing the barrier finally shatter.
“My Lord.”
I called out to the Poison King, who was staring at me, utterly shocked. For some reason, his pupils were trembling, his gaze fixed on me.
Hmm.
It must be because of how I directed the hunt. I was uneasy about so many witnesses, but there was nothing I could do.
“I believe we can all join the assault now.”
“…Is it because… the barrier is gone?”
So he had seen it, as I suspected. The Poison King had discerned the Qi-absorbing barrier. Was that why everyone was standing there in stunned silence?
“It hasn't vanished completely, but if we all attack together, it should collapse immediately.”
“…Expert Gu.”
“Yes?”
“Just what are you?”
I tilted my head in feigned confusion. I'd been asked that question a lot lately. It reminded me of when Tang Duk posed the same query, and I had inexplicably identified myself as the Heavenly Demon.
Why did I say that?
I still didn't know. Was it annoyance at the world seemingly trying to cast me in that role? I wasn't sure, but it felt like the necessary response at the time.
“I'm not sure what you mean. I am simply a martial artist from the Gu Clan.”
“…You know that’s not what I’m asking.”
“No, I really don't.”
Just as I shook my head in denial,
Crash! Kyaaaaa!
The Demon unleashed a deafening roar. I checked the source of the commotion. Someone had attacked in Wi Seol-Ah's place—the White Ripple Sword.
…When had she moved there?
“Hahaha!”
She laughed cheerfully, as if thoroughly enjoying herself.
Sigh.
I exhaled deeply. She had struck a weak spot. Had she figured it out just by watching? If it wasn't a coincidence, it meant the White Ripple Sword had also grasped the method of hunting Red Demons. Was this the difference a higher level made?
The snake's balance broke under the force of her attack.
Rustle.
The Demon's barrier crumbled into dust and scattered. It was finally destroyed.
I began walking toward the Demon.
Splash.
It felt awkward; it had been a long time since I last walked on water. It was a sophisticated technique requiring precise Qi control.
But those three are even more monstrous.
Despite being only at the Peak Realm, they had mastered water-walking after a brief lesson I'd almost scrapped, thinking it impossible. As always, their talent was a constant shock.
Splash.
I took another step, enveloping myself in flames.
Blaaaze!
The aquatic environment was a slight hindrance, but not a major issue.
This should suffice.
Swoosh!
I leaped high into the air, needing the extra height to reach the massive serpent.
There were two reasons I had held back, only issuing commands until now. First, to give them experience in hunting this type of Demon. Second…
I didn't want to waste energy breaking the barrier.
It wouldn't have been a huge problem, but I needed to conserve my strength for any unforeseen emergencies. Now, I was joining the fray for one specific reason.
I need that Demonic Stone.
How could I pass up a Demonic Stone from a Red Demon? Even with the chaotic turn of events, I couldn't let this opportunity slip away. The energy within that stone would be immense, and I was desperate for strength. I couldn't afford to miss it.
As the monster reeled from the White Ripple Sword's assault, I propelled myself forward with an explosion of flame, closing the distance rapidly. I gathered fire in my hand. I felt no barrier—it had been completely shattered. Reaching the snake's scales, I drove my fist, supercharged with Qi, forward with immense force.
Pwoosh!
My arm pierced through the scales and deep into the serpent's body. The size difference made the wound seem insignificant, but that didn't matter. The important thing was that I was inside.
I concentrated my Qi, forming a Flaming Sphere in my palm, and detonated it without hesitation within the beast's body.
Kwaaaaak! Kyaaaaaa!
The creature thrashed wildly and plunged into the water, trying to extinguish the internal fire. But a Qi-born flame isn't so easily quenched. I expanded the flames after the initial explosion.
Tsk.
Holding my breath underwater was manageable at my level. My focus was solely on ending this creature's life.
[…W…Whyyy…]
A voice suddenly echoed in my mind. A telepathic message?
[Oh, great one… why… why are you abandoning us…!!!]
It was a voice brimming with despair, loud enough to feel like it would shatter my eardrums. I was bewildered at first.
Huh?
Then, shifting my gaze slightly, I saw it. The Demon, consumed by my flames and dying, was weeping tears of blood as it stared directly at me.