Chapter 242
Chapter 242
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 242
Chapter Title: Overwhelmed by the Bandit Emperor
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Hyeonsang stared intently at the Bandit Emperor.
The thick, deep blue-green energy emanating from him spread at an alarming speed, as if it would soon devour Mount Hua whole.
Watching this, Hyeonsang bit his lip hard.
'...Strong.'
No, strong wasn't enough to describe it.
The aura he exuded, his very presence, was overwhelmingly intense—impossible to fathom its limits.
If Hyeonsang let his focus slip even slightly, he was certain he'd be swept away by the encroaching verdant corruption, flailing helplessly.
Hyeonsang's eyebrows furrowed into an inverted eight.
'To think even holding out is this difficult.'
He was managing to block it with the internal energy of the Purple霞 Divine Art, but it was starting to feel burdensome.
The Bandit Emperor's energy was nothing short of overwhelming.
'The title of Bandit Emperor is well-earned. He elevated a mere band of mountain bandits to their current status...'
Truth be told, until facing him directly, Hyeonsang had underestimated him subconsciously.
No matter the grand title, he was just a bandit at heart—or so he'd thought.
But now, face-to-face, it was different.
He was a true master.
One far beyond Hyeonsang's own level...
At that moment, the Bandit Emperor's tightly shut lips parted slowly.
"A beautiful purple hue."
A calm voice drummed in his ears.
It was dry, like parched firewood.
Yet the expression on the Bandit Emperor's face as he spoke was fiercely intense, like a blazing inferno.
'To think he'd block the power of the Heavenly Punishment Verdant Blossom Guarding Art with that level of skill.'
The Bandit Emperor's gaze lifted to the sky.
He observed the violet energy clashing fiercely with the battle spirit-packed power of the Heavenly Punishment Verdant Blossom Guarding Art, locked in a territorial struggle.
It was so subtle and soft.
Seeming fragile enough to shatter at the slightest touch.
'But it won't break.'
His eyes darkened gravely.
He could sense it instinctively.
Though it appeared easily swept away at first glance, it possessed a flexibility that wouldn't yield even to the fiercest onslaught.
"Mount Hua's divine art, the Purple霞 Divine Art?"
"You know it well."
Hyeonsang forced a cold reply.
But the Bandit Emperor's expression showed not the slightest change upon hearing it.
He simply spoke indifferently.
"Indeed... It's worthy of being called a divine art, as they say. However..."
He trailed off and took a step forward.
Thud—
And in that instant.
"...!"
Hyeonsang's face twisted sharply.
Intense battle spirit exploded from the Bandit Emperor's advancing foot, bolstering the energy that sought to corrupt the air.
Then, soon after.
Crack—
Cracks began to form in the Purple霞 Divine Art as it struggled against the Bandit Emperor's power.
Feeling the invading energy slowly piercing through, Hyeonsang's mouth went dry.
'Incredible internal energy control.'
As he barely swallowed his shock.
Smirk—
The Bandit Emperor bared his teeth in a grin.
"The one who cultivated that divine art is sorely lacking in skill."
Hyeonsang gripped his sword tighter at the mocking words.
Infuriating, but true.
Though he'd mastered the supreme Purple霞 Divine Art, his own attainment was far from profound.
"How do you expect to defeat me like that?"
Hyeonsang's eyes clouded with complication at the follow-up.
'If we clash in this state, I'll probably...'
The word 'defeat' dominated his mind.
The gap in skill was unmistakable.
But...
'I can't avoid it.'
Hyeonsang slowly closed his eyes, then opened them.
He couldn't evade this decisive battle.
He mustn't.
Hyeonsang slowly raised his sword.
Swish—
The tip now precisely aimed at the Bandit Emperor's face.
Soon, his lips parted.
"You're more talkative than I expected."
As he spoke, Hyeonsang smiled faintly.
"Are you perhaps afraid of losing to me?"
"Puhahaha! Interesting. Very interesting."
The Bandit Emperor burst into laughter.
After laughing heartily, he fixed Hyeonsang with murderous eyes and licked his lips.
"You're dying to die, aren't you?"
Wiping the smile away instantly, he unbound his arms behind his back and brought both hands forward.
Chilling killing intent spread in all directions.
At the same time, the Heavenly Punishment Verdant Blossom Guarding Art permeating the surroundings surged like waves in response to his will.
That was when it happened.
Swish—
The Bandit Emperor raised his right hand.
'A vicious scar.'
In that moment, Hyeonsang's expression soured slightly.
The palm was etched with countless sword marks, horrific just to look at.
'What kind of training could cause that...?'
With that, the Bandit Emperor's gray robe billowed wildly, and tangible green energy waves erupted from his entire body.
And the next instant.
His form elongated bizarrely, closing the distance to Hyeonsang in one breath.
It was an eerie sight.
In that suddenly narrowed gap.
Hyeonsang flinched but struggled to maintain composure, moving to swing the Azure Cloud Sword in his grip.
But before he could.
Whoosh!
A palm wind burst from the side, targeting his face.
Hyeonsang urgently twisted his head aside.
His hair shot upward as the palm wind barely grazed his ear.
He'd dodged the sudden attack, but Hyeonsang couldn't relax.
The Bandit Emperor's pale green eyes were now staring intently at him from right before his face.
As he felt intimidated by the thick, chilling killing intent in those eyes.
"Not bad dodge."
The Bandit Emperor sneered and added,
"Let's see you dodge this one too."
The Bandit Emperor thrust out his palm.
Green energy flowed along it, radiating fierce battle spirit.
Soon, his hand moved rapidly, creating dozens of afterimages in an instant.
Whoooosh!
Ferocious palm shadows infused with power rained down on Hyeonsang.
Each one was utterly menacing.
Faced with the deadly assault, Hyeonsang frantically moved his feet.
In an instant, his figure split into multiples, undergoing endless transformations.
Divine Steps Hundred Changes!
Unleashing Mount Hua's most dazzling footwork, Hyeonsang swung his sword wildly at the incoming palm shadows.
A slashing strike from left to right cleaved as if parting heaven and earth.
Swish—
A faint violet glow rose.
The flame blooming against dozens of palm shadows seemed pitifully weak.
But in that moment.
'What is that?'
The Bandit Emperor sensed something off.
That tiny glow. That small flame.
It harbored an inexplicable momentum. And that strange sensation was no illusion.
Roar!
Suddenly, all the palm shadows pouring toward Hyeonsang ignited and vanished.
It was a mystical scene.
As if everything in the world was engulfed in purifying violet flames, burning brightly.
'...Is this Mount Hua's swordsmanship?'
It was a sublime sword form.
Dozens of variations woven into a single strike, flowing with mystical momentum.
Enough to draw involuntary admiration.
However.
'Insufficient.'
With cold eyes, the Bandit Emperor's body shifted left and right.
His deep blue-green gaze left long afterimages horizontally as his robe sleeves whipped violently.
Unleashing the Ghost Shadowless Step, honed over centuries, he thrust his right hand forward.
Craaaack!
Space warped violently.
Soon, the Azure Cloud Sword was caught in the Bandit Emperor's right hand.
"...!"
Hyeonsang's eyes widened.
'Faint Dawn Igniting Flame... caught?'
Unbelievable.
Yet reality didn't change.
"Quite an impressive sword art. If your skill were higher, I might have fallen for it."
The Bandit Emperor pulled the seized Azure Cloud Sword toward himself and extended his left hand toward Hyeonsang's abdomen.
"Guhk!"
Hyeonsang spat blood.
Even so, he tensed the hand gripping the sword and twisted it sideways.
"Pointless struggling."
The Bandit Emperor released the sword.
"Kuhk, guhk."
The recoil sent Hyeonsang staggering backward.
And the Bandit Emperor didn't miss that opening.
Taat!
Intense internal energy surged into his right palm, slamming toward Hyeonsang's side.
"...!"
Biting his lip hard, Hyeonsang grimaced and channeled energy into his sword, raising it to deflect.
Boooom!
A massive explosion erupted.
Hyeonsang had retreated over ten paces, while the Bandit Emperor slowly dusted off his hand amid the rising dust.
"As expected of a Nine Great Sects sect leader. To block the Thunderclap Palm Art in that condition."
Hyeonsang wiped the blood from his mouth with his sleeve.
His white beard was now soaked red.
"...It's not over yet."
Hyeonsang laboriously lifted his sword.
'Has the Azure Cloud Sword always been this heavy?'
The companion he'd wielded for so long felt unusually burdensome today.
No, it wasn't the sword's weight.
It was the immense responsibility he bore as Mount Hua Sect's leader.
His eyes hardened coldly.
Anxiety welled up from within, spurring him on, but he didn't retreat.
"...I am Mount Hua Sect's leader."
Muttering to himself, he gripped his sword tightly and unleashed the Purple霞 Divine Art.
Fwaaaah—
His robes billowed dramatically.
Simultaneously, violet internal energy rose from his feet, enveloping his blade.
Then, as if vowing to himself, he declared,
"...No matter what, I cannot lose."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Boom! Boom!
Cheonhwi, watching the clash between the Bandit Emperor and Hyeonsang, narrowed his eyes and whispered,
"Looks more proficient than last time. Did you train somewhere?"
The sword form Hyeonsang was unleashing now was the first stance of Mount Hua's supreme sword art, the Purple霞 Sword Conclusion.
Faint Dawn Igniting Flame.
But.
"Pity the opponent's too strong."
Cheonhwi shrugged.
Hyeonsang had reached the threshold of the Ultimate Realm, but the Bandit Emperor was already a peak Ultimate Realm master.
Not just any—on par with the Chongnam Sword Saint.
The difference was night and day.
Even now, wounds accumulated on Hyeonsang's body, while the Bandit Emperor remained unscathed.
Hyeonsang had held out this long against him thanks to the Purple霞 Divine Art.
Without it, he'd have crumbled instantly under the Bandit Emperor's aura.
Cheonhwi's eyes narrowed.
'I'll watch how long he lasts, then step in if it gets dangerous.'
Gaining real combat experience was vital, but dying wasn't an option.
As Cheonhwi lightly gripped his sword, ready to intervene at any moment.
Someone else moved first.
"Sect Leader!"
Hyeonheo charged at the Bandit Emperor.
Raising his sword with fierce momentum, he shot forward like an arrow.
"...Interfering."
As the Bandit Emperor glanced at him.
Whoosh!
A pure white shadow suddenly appeared.
Clang!
The White-Clothed Ghost Face blocked Hyeonheo's path.
"How dare you interfere."
Hyeonheo's eyes narrowed as he unleashed the Heavenly Flow Sword toward the White-Clothed Ghost Face.
However.
Clang!
The saber blocked it.
"...!"
Hyeonheo's eyes widened.
Even if hastily executed, the Heavenly Flow Sword had been blocked too easily.
As he frowned.
"Senior Brother!"
This time, Hyeonyang joined in.
"Junior Brother?!"
"I'll help too."
"But you're..."
Hyeonheo couldn't hide his bewilderment.
Knowing Hyeonyang's condition well, he only felt anxious.
As if reading his thoughts, Hyeonyang smiled softly and said,
"Don't worry."
At the same time, Hyeonyang circulated his internal energy.
And raised his sword with his left hand.
Stunned by the astonishing momentum, Hyeonheo flinched but soon nodded.
"Then I'll leave it to you."
"Understood."
As the two nodded.
The White-Clothed Ghost Face's face twisted viciously.
"Underestimating me."
In that instant.
"You're right."
A voice came from beside the White-Clothed Ghost Face.
The startled Ghost Face swung his saber desperately, but the attack halted midway.
"Hm, disappointing."
Cheonhwi had caught the swung saber between two fingers and grinned.
"You...!"
The White-Clothed Ghost Face furrowed his brows.
After a brief pause.
"Gireunno!"
"Heh heh."
Gireunno popped up at his call.
"Why'd you call?"
Seeing Gireunno smirking murderously as if he'd been waiting.
"Take those two."
"Heh heh heh, shame. I wanted to see that young one's blood."
Gireunno glanced at Cheonhwi and chuckled slyly.
"These guys?!"
"......"
As Hyeonheo and Hyeonyang scowled.
Clang!
A clear ring echoed.
Cheonhwi had snapped the White-Clothed Ghost Face's saber in half with his grip and smiled brightly.
Then, he crooked a finger at the White-Clothed Ghost Face and Gireunno.
"Eh, can you handle it alone? Come at me together if you want."