Chapter 511
Chapter 511
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 511
Chapter Title: Heavenly Retribution
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A peculiar light flickered in Bu Eun-seol's eyes as he felt the strange phenomenon coursing through his body.
How could he possibly fathom the power and subtlety of Paeng Ryun's final, yet-to-be-unleashed blade form?
‘I’ve grown again.’
A strange sense of exhilaration flowed through his entire body.
Through this fight, he had once again elevated his martial prowess by another level.
A gleam.
Before he knew it, a mystical radiance began to emanate from Bu Eun-seol's entire body.
He looked like a seeker of truth, walking a solitary path that no one else had trodden.
The path he had chosen.
He didn't know if it was the path of righteousness or the demonic way, the path of darkness or heresy.
He simply wished to make all the powers contained within his body his own.
“Die!”
Just then, Paeng Ryun, spotting an opening in Bu Eun-seol's stance, unleashed a technique from his Demon-Slaying Blade Heart.
It was a powerful blade art that completely transcended the boundaries of martial arts, capable of obliterating not just the underground of the Grand Hall but the entire area.
However, to Bu Eun-seol's eyes, where the Wolf Fang Insight had briefly manifested, it was merely a movement full of openings.
‘Grandfather, one day I will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you.’
The moment the blade energy, powerful enough to engulf the world, began to spread, Bu Eun-seol actually broke into a bright smile.
It was the same innocent smile Bu Eun-seol had shown Bu Jan-yang in his childhood.
‘In my own way, that is.’
My own Peerless Heaven Flow, my own sword style.
Bu Eun-seol, who had mastered the true form of the Life and Death Reversion.
In the midst of this extreme battle, he was once again evolving his swordsmanship, making a new leap forward.
Sizzle.
As he gripped the hilt of the Ice Soul Sword, its scabbard began to glow red-hot.
Time itself seemed to stand still, and a storm of red light raged around his body.
Finally, the world turned to flame, and Bu Eun-seol's eyes locked onto Paeng Ryun's arm as he prepared to unleash his blade energy.
‘Transcendent Form: Meteor Chasing the Moon!’
Flash!
Like a bolt of lightning, the Ice Soul Sword shot forward, a single streak of red light that vanished into a single point.
“Keuk!”
With a short scream, blood splattered as Paeng Ryun's right arm fell to the ground.
He had instantly created a new sword art from the insights gained thus far.
The first form of the Peerless Heaven Flow. The Transcendent Break Form of the Meteor Chasing the Moon style.
‘Though I did borrow Grandfather’s blade principles.’
Bu Eun-seol had used the principles of Bu Jan-yang's Seven Forms of Blood Tears, which could be called the greatest blade art under heaven.
To create a transcendent sword principle for his Peerless Heaven Flow on the spot.
“Ugh.”
Paeng Ryun, his arm severed, immediately pressed his acupoints.
“How can a brat like you use such a sword art.”
Paeng Ryun's face contorted as he glared at Bu Eun-seol, his body trembling.
“Is this the real Seven Forms of Blood Tears?”
“Seven Forms of Blood Tears?”
Bu Eun-seol scoffed and spoke in a cold voice.
“If I had used the Seven Forms of Blood Tears, it would have been your neck, not your arm, that fell.”
“You’re saying that technique just now wasn’t the Seven Forms of Blood Tears?”
“I'll show you firsthand.”
Shing.
Bu Eun-seol slowly drew the Ice Soul Sword.
And looked down at Paeng Ryun with eyes burning red.
“That your pathetic blade arts can't even touch the dust on my grandfather's feet.”
“Grandfather?”
Paeng Ryun couldn't make sense of it.
What in the world was this brat talking about?
Fwaaa!
Just then, Bu Eun-seol unleashed the Life and Death Reversion.
Then, instead of a sword ring, a crimson-black mist, like dark death itself, flowed out.
Upon seeing that mist, Paeng Ryun felt fear.
He had a premonition of his own death, something he had never once considered until now.
“The Blade Emperor's arts are invincible!”
With a desperate cry, Paeng Ryun gripped his saber with his left hand and, like lightning, unleashed a technique from the Demon-Slaying Blade Heart.
The Blade Emperor, who pursued the Way of the Blade, had created a truly perfect blade art.
The power of the art, the subtlety of its forms, the perfect timing.
Before the emperor's blade art, any other martial art was useless, and there was no way to evade it, no matter what one did.
Paeng Ryun had converted the technique of the Demon-Slaying Blade Heart into a swift-draw style, solely to sever Bu Eun-seol's neck.
Flash!
The light that shot from Paeng Ryun's blade split Bu Eun-seol's neck.
At the same time, all the mist that had been swirling around Bu Eun-seol vanished.
Drip, drip, drip.
Simultaneously, something dripped from Bu Eun-seol's Ice Soul Sword.
It was blood, stained red.
“So this… was the real Seven Forms of Blood Tears.”
Paeng Ryun stared into the void with empty eyes.
What had been unleashed upon him was not a blade art.
It was the tear of a death god, bestowing death.
Why would a death god, who brings death to mortals, shed a tear?
It was because with every life that was extinguished,
perhaps it was the blood tear of an absolute bladesman who felt his own purpose flicker and die with each life he took.
“To have created such a deathly blade art… I don't understand why he carried such a desolate feeling.”
Clang.
Paeng Ryun dropped the saber in his hand and muttered in a trembling voice.
“Death is such a terrifying thing… Bu Jan-yang, why did he…”
The Seven Forms of Blood Tears.
Bu Jan-yang, who created this death-like blade art, must have long ago broken through the realm of Heaven and Man and become a god of death.
If he had so wished, there would have been no one he could not kill.
Why…
Thud.
A single drop of blood fell from his heart, and then,
Thump.
Paeng Ryun collapsed to the floor.
“Was it all just… a fleeting dream?”
Those were his last words.
Even the martial arts of the Blade Emperor, the most tyrannical and powerful of the Eight Desolations' Three Stars, could not stand against Bu Jan-yang's Seven Forms of Blood Tears.
“Senior Gwan.”
The image of Gwan Hae-geum dying alone in the cave on the Heavenly Mountain surfaced in Bu Eun-seol's mind.
Now that his revenge was complete, could he rest in eternal peace?
For a while, Bu Eun-seol closed his eyes and prayed for his soul.
* * *
The battle between Noe Bi-hon and Paeng Ak was fierce.
In terms of pure blade skill, Paeng Ak was slightly inferior to his younger brother, Paeng Ryun, but he had researched various martial arts and had powerfully modified his body.
In terms of sheer martial power, he surpassed Paeng Ryun.
Zzzzzzt!
Noe Bi-hon, having recovered his body and reached the pinnacle of the Lightning Spirit Ki.
He could now freely use all the martial arts of the Lightning Spirit Sect.
However, the Dark Blood Tyrant Blade Ki, which extinguished true ki arts, was a natural counter to Noe Bi-hon.
No matter how much powerful Lightning Spirit Ki he poured out, it was blocked by the Dark Blood Tyrant Blade Ki.
And the martial arts of the Lightning Spirit Sect, without the accompaniment of Lightning Spirit Ki, could threaten Paeng Ak but could hardly inflict a fatal wound.
Shwaaak!
Struck again by the sharp blade energy, Noe Bi-hon was knocked back sixty feet.
Thanks to the powerful Lightning Spirit Ki protecting and healing his body, he wasn't torn apart.
But with each hit from the Dark Blood Tyrant Blade Ki, his Lightning Spirit Ki diminished, and even the fortitude of his spirit was shaken.
“They say mistakes are bound to be repeated.”
Paeng Ak wore a relaxed expression as he withdrew his Black Blood Demonic Blade.
“Back then, you also rampaged wildly, but in the end, you couldn't save anyone.”
Paeng Ak was deliberately trying to provoke Noe Bi-hon.
But he no longer flew into a rage. Because he had been mad for a long time.
Even after regaining his clear and sound mind, he was still mad for revenge.
Blaming himself for losing his son and wife because he had been too weak.
Shwaaak!
Noe Bi-hon's body was cut countless times by the Black Blood Demonic Blade, and each time, his Lightning Spirit Ki was greatly diminished.
Paeng Ak, who had not only mastered the Five Tiger Break Gate Saber but also the Blade Emperor's arts, surpassed Noe Bi-hon's martial skills.
Moreover, with his Lightning Spirit Ki rendered useless by the Dark Blood Tyrant Blade Ki… none of the Lightning Spirit Sect's arts were effective.
Drip, drip, drip.
Eventually, blood began to flow from Noe Bi-hon's body.
Had his Lightning Spirit Ki already been so diminished by the Dark Blood Tyrant Blade Ki that he could no longer heal his wounds?
“Why aren't you healing?”
Paeng Ak's expression turned strange as Noe Bi-hon's chest became stained with red.
“Your Lightning Spirit Ki hasn't been depleted enough to prevent you from healing.”
He could see that Noe Bi-hon still had over eighty percent of his Lightning Spirit Ki remaining.
So it seemed strange that he wasn't mending his wounds.
“To cut you down… I first had to cut down my past self.”
Noe Bi-hon, who had regained all his past memories.
He realized that what had been tormenting his heart all this time was not just the deaths of his son and wife.
But the contempt and hatred he felt for his own incompetence, for being powerless to protect his family.
In that case, the first opponent he had to cut down was not Paeng Ak, but himself.
If he couldn't cast off the self-hatred and contempt, he would never be able to properly wield his power as the Lightning God.
Vmmm. Rumble.
But just then, the great hall shook as if from an earthquake, and a tremendous shockwave spread out.
Paeng Ak sensed the faint shockwave from afar and shook his head.
“It seems that young brat's skills are nothing to scoff at.”
The vibration that had just spread.
He recognized it as the shockwave that spread when Paeng Ryun raised his internal energy to unleash the Dark Blood Blade Arts with all his might.
That meant the young whelp was a powerful warrior against whom the Dark Blood Tyrant Blade Ki was ineffective.
He had to deal with Noe Bi-hon quickly and join forces to kill him.
“Hehehe. Does it feel unjust?”
Paeng Ak looked at Noe Bi-hon and smiled faintly.
It must be maddeningly frustrating and unfair.
Because with his Lightning Spirit Ki and the arts of the Lightning Spirit Sect, he couldn't even touch a single hair on his head.
In the end, history was repeating itself, and he would be unable to avenge his family.
“Your body will be put to good use in the main world. To unlock the secrets of that Lightning Spirit Body of yours.”
As Paeng Ak stretched out his hand, the interior of the hall darkened, and a black storm raged from all directions.
He unleashed the Black Wind and White Rain technique to block Noe Bi-hon's martial arts and Lightning Spirit Ki, leaving him unable to resist.
Then, he intended to immediately sever his neck and end his life.
“Farewell.”
Just as the sharp blade energy was about to cross Noe Bi-hon's neck,
Thwack!
Suddenly, Noe Bi-hon shot out a projectile. It was a perfectly round bead.
“Trying to imitate the Projectile King?”
Paeng Ak let out a hollow laugh and tried to bat it away with his Black Blood Demonic Blade.
Crack! Thud!
But it instantly pierced through the Black Blood Demonic Blade, formed from the Dark Blood Tyrant Blade Ki, and embedded itself in his right shoulder.
“Kugh.”
Paeng Ak groaned loudly and tried to pull out the bead lodged in his shoulder.
Zzzzzzt!
But when he touched it, he felt a burning sensation as if his body was on fire, and a pure white light flared up.
“What is this?”
“A fusion of hundreds of lightning bolts, extreme yang ki, a Divine Spiritwood Cane, and a Hyeonyeop Stone.”
Noe Bi-hon said softly as he slowly approached Paeng Ak.
“I've named it the Heavenly Retribution Jade. A jade that contains the punishment of the heavens.”
It was the Divine Spiritwood Cane and Hyeonyeop Stone that Noe Bi-hon had been holding in the Demon Sword Marsh.
The hundreds of lightning bolts that rained down from the sky had melted the two divine objects into one lump, which eventually formed into two beads.
Noe Bi-hon had unconsciously picked them up and kept them.
But those beads contained not only the energy of the hundreds of thunderbolts that fell from the sky.
But also the pinnacle of extreme yang martial arts that Bu Eun-seol had displayed, the Great Purity Incineration True Ki.
And the energies of the Hyeonyeop Stone and the Divine Spiritwood Cane.
Moreover, the hardness of these beads was beyond imagination; they couldn't be broken by any force.
—So, this is to help me with my revenge.
Noe Bi-hon trembled when he discovered the immense power contained within the beads.
These two beads were sent by his son and wife in heaven…
A tool of heavenly retribution, meant to kill the demon who had repeatedly slaughtered people through cruel experiments.
When the fight began, Noe Bi-hon had intentionally taken the attacks.
He had to appear helpless so that Paeng Ak would let his guard down and deliver a decisive blow.
And when the opportunity arose, Noe Bi-hon had immediately thrown the Heavenly Retribution Jade at Paeng Ak.
“Hehehe.”
But Paeng Ak just cackled.
He glanced at the Heavenly Retribution Jade embedded in his shoulder, then held out his left hand.
Vwooom.
Then, black true ki once again formed from his left hand, creating a massive blade.
He had created the Black Blood Demonic Blade with his left hand.
“Did you think I could only create the Black Blood Demonic Blade with my right hand?”
Paeng Ak laughed confidently.
“Unfortunately for you, your plan…”
His eyes widened as he spoke.
Kra-koom!
A bolt of pure white lightning seemed to streak through the air, and then,
Zzzzt. Krrrumble.
The Black Blood Demonic Blade formed in his left hand was instantly annihilated.
Noe Bi-hon had unleashed a Divine Lightning Annihilation at extreme speed, embedding the other Heavenly Retribution Jade in his other shoulder with truly unavoidable velocity.
“There were… two of them.”
Paeng Ak had a dumbfounded expression.
“I don't understand.”
Only then did Paeng Ak realize that everything had gone wrong.
“How can a bead containing such energy exist in this world? How can there be an object that can nullify the Dark Blood Tyrant Blade Ki!”
“My wife and son sent it.”
Zzzzzzt.
As Noe Bi-hon walked slowly forward, his eyes were glowing white, and his entire body was wreathed in pure white lightning.
Zzzzzzt!
A large circle soon formed around Paeng Ak, and bolts of white lightning began to coil around his body and strike down.
He was pouring his Lightning Spirit Ki, which had reached its zenith, into Paeng Ak's body.
“You bastard!”
Paeng Ak's eyes were filled with despair and terror.
Even if Noe Bi-hon's Lightning Spirit Ki had become several times more powerful, there was never a chance he would lose in the first place.
Because no matter its form, the Lightning Spirit Ki could be nullified by the Dark Blood Tyrant Blade Ki.
In that case, the battle would be decided by the refinement of their martial arts. There was no chance that Noe Bi-hon, who had lived as a madman for over a decade, could defeat him.
But something unexpected had happened.
Noe Bi-hon had brought a strange object that didn't even exist in the martial world, used it to nullify the Black Blood Demonic Blade and the Dark Blood Tyrant Blade Ki, and subdued him.
“Not a chance!”
Raising his internal energy, he forced himself to draw the saber at his waist.
But the power of the Lightning Spirit Ki far surpassed his expectations.
Before this powerful lightning ki, no supreme martial art was of any use.
Zzzzzzt! Vwooooom!
Paeng Ak's body was wreathed in pure white lightning.
He looked as if he had become a god who controlled lightning.
But in reality, his body was melting away due to Noe Bi-hon's Lightning Spirit Ki.
Swish, swish, swish, swish!
Paeng Ak swung his blade like a madman, but the endlessly pouring Lightning Spirit Ki passed right through his body.
Clatter.
Finally dropping his saber, Paeng Ak shouted.
“Wait! I'll tell you the secret of the Infinite Realm!”
“…”
“The Heavenly Sovereign! I'll tell you where the Heavenly Sovereign is. If you find him… Ughhh. Aaaaaaah!”
In the end, a horrific scream echoed through the great hall.
Paeng Ak writhed in agony, starting to claw at his own chest.
Melted, sticky skin clung to his fingers.
Zzzzzzt!
The pain was so excruciating that he wanted to roll on the floor, but his body felt like a stiff block of wood.
“Uwaaaargh!”
Before long, all his skin had melted away, and he was screaming as a form of red muscle.
“Kill me… Please, kill me!”
Paeng Ak, who had cultivated immense internal energy and martial arts, true to his status as a Special Divine Envoy of the Three Realms, did not die even after all his skin had melted off.
Zzt!
When Noe Bi-hon stopped the Lightning Spirit Ki, Paeng Ak crawled toward him with his body of exposed red muscle and begged.
“Please, kill me, kill me.”
Noe Bi-hon had originally intended to make him suffer for a long time, even injecting him with Lightning Spirit Ki.
To prolong his life.
That way, he could savor this hellish pain for a very long time.
“Kill me, please, kill me.”
But the sight of Paeng Ak writhing in pain reminded him of his son, who had died a horrible death in the past.
His beloved son must have felt this same pain as he died.
Drip.
Shedding a single tear, Noe Bi-hon bit his lip.
Thump.
At the same time, a large hole was pierced through Paeng Ak's heart.
He had used the Divine Lightning Annihilation to end his life.
“Tha, thank…”
Paeng Ak breathed his last, leaving behind only that one word.
Drip.
Noe Bi-hon stared into the void with empty eyes.
Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the images of his son and wife dying horribly.
Since that day, he hadn't slept peacefully for a single night, nor had a day passed without him suffering.
And now, finally… he had avenged his son and wife.
Clink. Rattle, rattle.
Then, the pair of Heavenly Retribution Jades embedded in Paeng Ak's body fell out and rolled to his feet.
The Heavenly Retribution Jades, soaked in blood, slowly lost their form as they rolled.
Tap.
The two beads, now just small fragments, stopped at Noe Bi-hon's feet.
Sssshhh.
And they began to slowly disappear as if evaporating.
As if his wife and son in the heavens were bidding him a final farewell.
With trembling hands, Noe Bi-hon embraced the smoke that was vanishing like mist.
“Hic… Sob…”
He collapsed right there and wept uncontrollably.
“My son, my son! My love…!”
He wailed, his body trembling with the sorrow and anguish bursting forth.
“Sob… Hic…”
The reason Noe Bi-hon hadn't taken his own life was because of the guilt and self-blame he felt towards his son and wife.
If he met them in the afterlife without having achieved revenge, he would not have the face to see them.
And so he had clung to his harsh life, wandering the martial world as a demon of vengeance.
Now that his revenge was complete…
He could meet them in the afterlife with his head held high.
“My love, wait for me. I will be there soon.”
Noe Bi-hon closed his eyes.
He had no more regrets.
No, his soul had not been here since the day his two beloved ones had departed.
Zzzzzzt!
As he raised his internal energy to its maximum, his body turned white.
For a man who could instantly heal his body with Lightning Spirit Ki, the only way to end his own life was to sever his own heart meridian.
“Brother Noe!”
Just then, the doors on the opposite side of the hall opened, and a gray-clad figure rushed in.
His entire body was covered in blood, but his eyes were filled with worry and concern. It was Bu Eun-seol.
“Younger brother.”
Turning his head to look at Bu Eun-seol, Noe Bi-hon gave a faint smile.
“Thank you for everything. Thanks to you, I was able to get my revenge.”
“Brother Noe! Don't!”
“I'm sorry. I decided this… a long time ago. That I would go see my family once my revenge was complete.”
“Brother Noe.”
A desperate light shone in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
“Please, for my sake, reconsider. I… I need your help.”
Noe Bi-hon gave a dry smile.
That young prodigy didn't need help, nor did he want it.
He was just telling such a lie for his sake.
“I will repay the kindness you've shown me, even if I have to become a ghost to do it.”
And just as he was about to sever his heart meridian,
Crash!
The doors to the hall burst open again, and a black-clad figure rushed in. It was Dae Gu-hwi.
“Great Warrior Noe!”
He ran over happily upon seeing Bu Eun-seol and Noe Bi-hon.
His entire body was covered in wounds, and his martial uniform was soaked with blood.
Though injured, it seemed he had won a great victory against the Paeng family's masters and rushed straight here.
“What… are you trying to do right now?”
Seeing the tear-filled Noe Bi-hon and the pained expression on Bu Eun-seol's face, Dae Gu-hwi immediately grasped the situation.
“Don't! Great Warrior Noe!”
Dae Gu-hwi ran to Noe Bi-hon and grabbed his arms.
“You can't! Absolutely not!”
“Gu-hwi.”
“Great Warrior Noe, are you not my master?”
“I'm sorry, Gu-hwi.”
Dae Gu-hwi knelt down with a desperate expression.
“Don't leave me behind, Great Warrior Noe!”
Clear tears streamed from Dae Gu-hwi's eyes.
“I'm begging you… please don't leave me.”
He pleaded, his body trembling.
This was a young man who had not shed a single tear despite all the trials he had faced.
But as Noe Bi-hon tried to end his life without hesitation, the sorrow and grief hidden in his heart burst forth like a broken dam.
Drip.
Tears also flowed from Noe Bi-hon's eyes.
Dae Gu-hwi's wounds were more severe than he thought; there wasn't a single uninjured spot on him.
But he had run here, elated, to show that he had won.
“Gu-hwi.”
Noe Bi-hon looked at Dae Gu-hwi with trembling eyes.
If he were to take his own life, that poor boy would once again be plunged into an inescapable sorrow.
That poor boy who had not yet even overcome his own mother's death.
“Brother Noe.”
And when he turned his head.
Deep, long eyes were watching him.
This was a man who wouldn't bat an eye even if the entire martial world came at him.
Yet he was filled with worry and fear, lest he make the wrong choice.
“I…”
Noe Bi-hon released the internal energy he had gathered. And he smiled at Bu Eun-seol.
“I'm sorry, younger brother.”
Then he pulled the crying Dae Gu-hwi into an embrace.
“I'm sorry, Gu-hwi.”
Stream.
Thick teardrops streamed from his eyes.
It seemed his reunion with his family in the afterlife would have to be postponed for a little while.
Because he had found a reason to live once more.