The Heavenly Demon Copies Martial Arts - 177
CRACK.
Black thunder stirred from the tips of my feet.
“You just said ‘Rule the World’?” Mumyeong asked.
[....]
The silence between us was suffocating.
The tension in the air stretched taut, like a bowstring on the verge of snapping.
I murmured in a hoarse voice, “You weren’t like this before. After absorbing the last Guilin Heavenly World’s Guardian jade, did some change occur-”
[Nothing has changed.]
[From the very beginning, to this moment.]
[And in the future as well.]
Mumyeong spoke again.
[I will not change. I am always only myself. I have always advanced solely for a single goal.]
CRACK.
Black thunder rose again from the tips of my feet.
“What the hell?”
I doubted my own eyes.
It was faint, yet unmistakably thunder.
But the black lightning was not the same as the one from the Sura-dae-myeol-geop-jin.
It was an endless, sinister darkness.
And only then did I realize one fact that should have been obvious.
At present, I was not employing any form of the Sura-dae-myeol-geop-jin.
“Hey, kid.”
A man’s voice pierced through my thoughts.
I looked up.
“You’ve been muttering to yourself like that the whole time. How could anyone not notice you?”
Before me, two towering black-robed men approached, sizing me up.
PATTER.
The flickering black lightning at my feet vanished like a candle in the wind.
My hair settled.
One man had gray ponytail hair, the other wore a wolf-leather vest.
Both carried a single sword at their waist and a bow slung across their back.
“...This dark tournament has a history like this, and through this procedure, our sect, the Jeolhae Oji-bu, was entrusted with it. Our Oji-bu is truly honored to have this opportunity...”
Lee Hae-ryang’s voice echoed in my ears like a bell.
I stared at them.
My eyes were dazed.
Though my pupils fixed on them, my gaze did not.
I was thinking about the meaning behind Mumyeong’s words.
Thousands of thoughts raced through my mind.
Even in the space of half a breath, thousands of thoughts flashed by.
“Fine.”
At the end of my contemplation, I licked my cracked lips and murmured, “Mumyeong, you’ve forgotten that you’re living off me.”
[....]
“This journey started off on the wrong foot. I might have started secretly hoping for some miracle and a happy ending from there.”
[...Nothing has changed. From the very beginning, Host.]
Those words carried many layers of meaning.
I nodded.
“Yes. I understood your meaning perfectly. This moment.”
There was a volcanic pressure that seemed ready to erupt.
“I won’t forget it from now on.”
[Even if I and you do not wish it, fate will guide us. Although Asura temporarily held the reins back by taming my original nature a little, that is only a temporary measure.]
“Original nature?”
[Yes.]
Mumyeong said flatly.
[The battle instinct of one born under the heavenly blood fate, the Eight Gods of War on the battlefield who would bite down on the reins.]
The faces of the two black-robed men, who had been completely ignored, twisted sharply.
The man with gray ponytail hair stepped forward and reached out with a bear-paw-sized palm toward my hair.
“This brat ignores what I say and just rambles-”
PAT.
I slapped his palm aside.
My blade edge shot out like lightning and stopped right at the tip of the gray-ponytailed man’s nose.
“Eh?”
The gray-ponytailed man stared blankly at the tip of the blade that had touched his nose.
“When did this... appear in front of me...?”
KIIIIING!!
Red light exploded from my two eyes.
The aura was like gunpowder about to detonate.
“As I said many times before, killing is disqualified before the test.”
TUK.
It felt like cold water had been dumped over my head.
“Hoo, really? Who said we can’t kill? It says on the arena to kill to your heart’s content. Can you hold it for just a moment?”
On the stage, Lee Hae-ryang had stopped speaking.
He stood with hands clasped behind his back and stared precisely at me, hidden in the corner of the crowd.
Lee Hae-ryang sighed as if he had a headache and gestured.
“If they’re just average people, they can fight and die or not. But especially if that person who was requested is included.... Guards, separate those people for a moment.”
“Orders received.”
Black-leather-armored guards rushed over.
“You, you’ll see me after the test. I’ll be watching, so stay on your guard.”
“Lucky for you.”
The two black-robed men waved their fists at me and were escorted away by the guards.
“This way. Don’t cause unnecessary trouble.”
[....]
The red aura in my eyes faded.
I quietly followed the guards to the edge of the crowd.
“Master Ak Ryu-yeop, please step aside.”
The guard escorting me politely requested of the man in black robe holding the black pen.
“Oh? The movements a moment ago.... Judging by them, you seem to be the same age as me.”
The clean-faced man raised his black pen and looked at me curiously.
Two swords?
Two identical-length swords hung at his waist.
The surrounding black-robed men murmured.
“Oh my, it’s the Three Evil Young Masters.”
“The Dragon who the Sapa leaders couldn’t even touch has come?”
“Insane! No matter how dark the tournament, what level is this...!”
The man smiled brightly, enjoying his infamous reputation, and twirled a finger at his ear.
“Master Ak Ryu-yeop?”
The guard repeated his polite bow.
“Ah, no need to worry. I’m not the kind of fool who would miss this rare chance to obtain Master I-ta-bang’s treasure like this. Besides...”
The man winked at me.
“I heard there’s a rumor that the legendary assassin of the Blood Death Sect is watching here, so I have to participate no matter what. Right? You seem confident in your skills, so you came because of that woman? Judging by you, you look like you’re at the age where blood boils.”
[....]
My movements paused for a moment, then continued.
“Well, anyway, I don’t plan to cause a fuss here. See you later. Even if we’re of the same age, we should get along.”
Ak Ryu-yeop patted my arm with a kind smile as he passed.
The instant he passed me, he whispered in my ear.
“Of course, I won’t forget that touching what I claimed will get you killed. Know your place. Whether it’s money, objects, or especially women.”
[....]
After the commotion subsided, Lee Hae-ryang’s voice echoed through the Jeolhae Oji-bu’s hall.
“Then, before the preliminaries, we will conduct a test to measure the participants’ martial level. To prevent wasting time in the tournament’s proceedings, I inform you that those who cannot meet the minimum criteria may not participate.”
The test was simple and primitive.
A giant stone pillar stood with a dot marked in the center with a brush.
“What do I do here?”
The first test taker pointed at the stone pillar and asked Lee Hae-ryang.
Lee Hae-ryang pointed at the central dot on the pillar.
“Shatter it.”
“...With bare hands?”
“That is also not prohibited, but if it is to be shattered simply by striking, with so many different types of martial artists, it would not be fair.”
Lee Hae-ryang approached and struck the pillar.
The pillar had a smooth texture as if covered in black silver powder on its white stone surface.
“This stone is a ten-thousand-year land-force rock that possesses the hardness of decent iron and the elasticity of martial artists’ inner energy. Place your palm on it and send inner energy to cause vibration, shattering the pillar. Of course, there is some leeway, so do not worry if it shatters.”
The first test taker’s face went blank at the words.
“...Shatter the pillar with inner energy? Is that even possible?”
He hesitated, but since everyone else was waiting in line, he could not just stand there.
He placed his hand on it and poured as much inner energy as possible.
TERRONG.
The pillar vibrated.
TICK.
A crack of about half a span appeared at the center point. The crack slowly sank into the stone and disappeared.
“Half a span? Tch. Next person.”
The supervisor nearby quickly measured the length of the crack and gestured for the next test taker to come forward.
The first test taker scratched the back of his head awkwardly and tried to step back.
CHEEK.
The guards blocked his path.
The test taker jumped in surprise.
“W-what?!”
“For reference, the minimum passing score for the tournament test is more than one span. You failed, so leave. I will escort you to the entrance.”
The first test taker was pulled away by the guards without delay.
The crowd’s gazes changed.
They rushed forward one after another.
TERRONG!
Each person’s inner energy varied in strength and nature.
“Kukuk. Interesting, so interesting. It’s hard to shatter the ten-thousand-year land-force rock with pure strikes, but with inner energy vibration?”
Gu-bu-seung-ya-cha No-eul-jin, the apostate monk, clicked his tongue and placed his palm on the pillar.
KUWOONG.
With a massive resonance, the pillar lifted and fell.
“Eh... Ha, passed.”
The supervisor muttered dazedly.
A clear imprint of the stone’s shape appeared around the central dot amid shattered fragments.
“Hmph, showing off with that. You worthless brat.”
As soon as Lee Eeo-jin placed his palm on the pillar, his inner energy shot through it at incredible speed.
JEONG!
A thick crack raced through the entire pillar like metal piercing.
Mid-test, my gaze shifted to the side.
In the distance, the gray-ponytailed black-robed man and the wolf-leather-vested black-robed man glared at me with vicious eyes.
Especially the gray-ponytailed man kept covering his own eyes with two fingers and pointing at me, implying that after the test he would deal with me.
The test progressed rapidly.
Originally, it was not a test that required much time.
Those who passed entered the first floor of the temple.
Those who failed were immediately escorted out by the guards.
Now, few people remained who had not taken the test.
“Oh, it’s the turn of the Three Evil Young Masters.”
Ak Ryu-yeop entered.
He was the one most watched in this tournament.
Although several martial artists had already passed the test, they remained in the square to wait for Ak Ryu-yeop instead of entering the first floor.
With the black pen held, he walked toward the pillar with a sly smile.
Two swords symbolizing his two-sword style swung at his waist.
“Hmph, as expected, the intimidation factor is no joke.”
Neither Lee Eeo-jin nor No-eul-jin showed the slightest hesitation against him.
The black-robed men whispered without stopping, mixing fear and jealousy.
“His inner energy is said to surpass even this guy...”
“Honestly, the tournament champion seems predetermined.”
Ak Ryu-yeop looked triumphant, as if he were the main character of this stage.
He did not immediately take the test in front of the pillar but enjoyed his reaction.
Lee Hae-ryang was on the verge of urging him to hurry.
Ak Ryu-yeop stopped Lee Hae-ryang and said, “Okay, okay. Damn, the chief steward of Jeolhae Oji-bu is so slow. It’s a tournament where the dragon of the black-robed and the husband of all the Central Plains’ five great beauties will make a splendid entry. Then, shall we begin?”
He placed his palm on the ten-thousand-year land-force rock.
Ak Ryu-yeop’s playful gaze changed.
Formidable inner energy began to erupt from his body.
“Hup!”
The apostate monk No-eul-jin’s expression changed.
Lee Eeo-jin showed a panicked face.
DRDRDR...!
The ground began to shake.
The earth quaked faintly.
“M-my god! How can there be inner energy like this at his age?!”
“Can someone of this age possess such inner energy?!”
Ak Ryu-yeop shouted and poured the boiling inner energy all at once into the pillar.
“HAP!”
KWAANG!!
Like a log exploding from lightning, the pillar jumped and shattered after surpassing vibration.
KUWOONG...!
The fallen pillar behind was shattered more than half.
TUWOK.
The supervisor’s brush fell from his hand.
“A soft ten-thousand-year land-force rock that absorbs impacts is... shattered...?”
“Ha, ha! I was trying to show this and scared you too much? Kheukheuk!”
Ak Ryu-yeop panted at the crowd’s reaction of being doused with cold water.
“Passed? Chief steward?”
Ak Ryu-yeop asked Lee Hae-ryang, who quietly stared at the shattered pillar.
“...Yes. Thank you for participating. Guards, bring the next pillar immediately and proceed with the next turn. Those who pass may enter the first floor first.”
Lee Hae-ryang bowed.
At that, Ak Ryu-yeop smiled satisfiedly and turned.
The next turn was mine.
He, who emerged from the test, found me waiting.
He approached me.
He grinned.
“Let’s try some tricks. Though I don’t need to see it anyway.... I’ll go in first.”
[....]
With an arrogant face, Ak Ryu-yeop let out a fart and slowly walked into the first floor of the temple.
“Hoo, he’s truly great.”
“I’ll forfeit.”
The crowd murmured and, losing interest, flooded into the first floor of the temple like a receding tide.
The supervisors began organizing.
Everyone began entering.
[....]
I stared at the pillar.
I was the only one left.
“Next test taker? Are you ready?”
The supervisor said to me.
“Ask a question.”
“Eh?”
I pointed at the pillar.
“Is it just to shatter the pillar? Whether I use inner energy or not.”
“...Yes... right? Hey, test taker? There, there?”
I stood in front of the pillar.
I spread my legs.
I clenched my fist.
The supervisor showed a strange expression and tried to stop me.
“No, sir. Just a moment. To pour inner energy, it’s not the fist but the palm that must be used.... This is a striking stance, and this was not made for shattering. Sir. There, this is the soft pillar made for pouring inner energy, you crazy bastard, there...!”
KKUK! KDUGDEUG!
Blood vessels popped along my neck.
My fist clenched as if it would burst.
PAAT!
Goosebumps rose on my eyes, and red aura began to erupt.
PARIK! PAJIJIK!!!
Red thunder began to erupt from my body.
My teeth ground as if they would shatter.
KWADUDUDUDU!!
The heavens and earth shook.
This shaking was incomparable to Ak Ryu-yeop’s.
“What the hell?”
Lee Hae-ryang stood up.
“My god!”
The apostate monk No-eul-jin, who had been entering the first floor, stopped.
Lee Eeo-jin stared dazedly.
“This... what is this?!”
Ak Ryu-yeop, who had been entering the first floor, widened his eyes.
He pushed through the people and came out.
“That’s...”
His eyes bulged.
He took a deep breath.
The muscles across his body contracted, and the inner energy of the three masters gathered.
He rolled his front foot.
“HUP!!”
After rigorous training in hell, my fist struck the ten-thousand-year land-force rock.
JJAUUNG!!!
The giant pillar rose to the height of an adult man’s stature.
It rose, but not enough; it shattered.
It spun in the air, but not enough; it failed to cancel the force, and the soft ten-thousand-year land-force rock exploded like a melon.
Fragments of the pillar flew everywhere like shrapnel from a wall-piercing bullet, mixing with dust.
“Insane.”
The supervisor sat down.
“The ten-thousand-year land-force rock...”
The apostate monk No-eul-jin’s jaw dropped to the floor.
“Just strikes, not inner energy?!”
Lee Eeo-jin was horrified.
THUD.
Stone fragments scattered.
“...This... what nonsense...”
Ak Ryu-yeop stared blankly at the flying stone fragments in all directions.
“Tsk!”
Grinding his teeth, he chewed his lip and stormed into the first floor.
And besides these, one more person had witnessed all of this vividly from beginning to end.
“Shit.”
The other one, the gray-ponytailed black-robed man, muttered in pale face.
“I’m dead.”
The Heavenly Demon Copies Martial Arts.