Chapter 347
Chapter 347
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 347
Chapter Title: Myriad Arts vs Heavenly Demon (2)
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A man who had risen to the seat of a constellation through human martial arts.
The absolute ruler of another world, Heavenly Demon (SSS Grade) Kang So-so.
She glared from within the dust.
'What the hell is this old geezer doing?'
Kang So-so was shocked.
No matter how long it had been since she last felt the sensations of a materialized body.
'He's pretty damn strong.'
The pain embedded in her abdomen told her as much.
The white-haired elder before her eyes was no ordinary man.
Careless?
Absolutely not.
Given her realm, which bordered on Transcending Demon.
Even if she had let her guard down a hundred times over, touching her abdomen would have been nearly impossible.
She was the Heavenly Demon, after all.
The supreme lord of the Divine Cult, who granted not even the hem of her robes to the weak.
"Right."
Kang So-so raised her sword again.
"So you're that Joo Dong-hoon guy's master or something?"
It was intriguing.
Regaining her longed-for body was fun enough.
And now she had run into that wooden sword punk, plus another powerhouse had shown up.
On top of that, what had he said earlier?
-Tsk tsk, you've got confidence in spades. Talking big with that level of skill.
"What?"
One phrase echoed repeatedly in Kang So-so's mind.
"That level of skill?"
In the murim.
Had anyone ever dared to use such a lowly expression toward her?
"Kekeke, kekekek."
It was hilarious.
She was on the verge of going mad from how entertaining it was.
"What's so funny?"
It was the elder.
"Was the hit earlier to your gut or your head? Or do you have your brain in your stomach? Tsk tsk, first time I've seen someone lose their mind from a single gut punch."
Kang So-so's face hardened at the elder's biting wordplay.
Well, landing that one hit was fine.
She could chalk it up to the guy being pretty strong and catching her off guard with a preemptive strike.
But daring.
To flap his gums before the Heavenly Demon—he'd have to pay for that.
"Have you ever seen such an insolent old fart? Daring to run your mouth in front of me?"
"Oh ho, laughing one moment and serious the next?"
The elder shrugged and curled his lips smugly.
"You must be truly insane. Skills barely scraping by, and now you've lost it too. Tsk tsk."
The elder scratched his ear.
A sign of ample leisure in dealing with the likes of her, and a blatant show of disdain.
Grit!
Kang So-so ground her teeth.
"Looks like I need to beat you down before I drag that wooden sword punk out and interrogate him."
"Hmm, with that level of skill?"
"You look like some righteous faction lightweight, but you talk like a sleazy conman old-timer."
"Guess that raspy voice comes with a raspy brain. 'Speak kindly to hear kindness in return' holds true in any world. Tsk tsk, must be your parents' poor upbringing."
"Hmph, parents? I don't even remember them."
"Ah, I see. So that's your story? Aah, that explains it, you rascal."
"......"
What the hell was this guy?
Kang So-so's face went blank for a moment.
Sure, she had no parents, but why did it feel so damn grating?
For the first time in her life, hit with a parental diss, she felt something bubbling up inside.
"Looks like words won't cut it."
Shing!
Kang So-so lowered her stance, sword at the ready.
Pfft.
The elder watching her chuckled.
"Still not charging? After already eating a preemptive strike and now baring your teeth... don't tell me you're scared? Ah, must be. Scared dogs always bark the loudest."
"Shut your trap, you bastard!"
Finally realizing words wouldn't work, Kang So-so struck first with her sword.
Any more banter, and she might fall into devilish obsession.
Better to just fight—it'd be less shocking that way.
"Take this!"
Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
Heaven-Shattering Asura Sword.
Blood Flower Full Bloom.
The basic stance of the Heaven-Shattering Asura Sword, releasing flower-shaped crimson sword qi and detonating it!
Dozens of flower buds swarmed chaotically, engulfing the world.
Torpedo-like peaks scattering, impossible to tell feint from real.
"Hoo, not bad."
The Myriad Arts Elder countered without hesitation.
"But that's it."
Whoosh!
With a simple swing of his sword.
Slice! Sliiiice!
The scattered buds vanished without a trace.
"Crude and useless."
Incredibly, with one casual motion from the elder.
All those buds withered before they could even bloom.
"When you should be focusing your power in one spot, why waste it on such nonsense feints?"
"......"
Kang So-so furrowed her brow.
'Stay calm.'
This old coot might have honed trash-talking as one of his "techniques" to rattle foes.
But still.
"......You...!"
Kang So-so couldn't contain her boiling rage.
"I'll rip that mouth off you!"
Kwarung!
No more feints this time.
Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
Heaven-Shattering Asura Sword.
Heaven Severing.
A heavy sword devoid of variations or tricks.
Heaven Severing, the technique said to cleave the sky itself, unfolded.
"......!"
Ha Sera, watching, parted her lips slightly.
What was Heaven Severing?
The final stance of the Heaven-Shattering Asura Sword, the entry to the true mind sword she herself hadn't perfected!
'That simple?'
Ha Sera clenched her fists.
Kang So-so's realm, executing such an advanced technique so effortlessly, was astonishing.
Clang!
But what about the elder blocking it just as casually?
'That's Joo Dong-hoon's master......'
Ha Sera nodded instinctively.
It explained his rapid growth.
With such a formidable master at his side, how could he not grow stronger?
"Haaap!"
Kang So-so pulled back and swung again.
Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
Heaven-Shattering Asura Sword.
Demon Dragon Heaven Shatter.
A swift and ferocious eastern dragon lunged forth.
Kwarururung!
It surged with the intent to devour, whether blocked or countered.
But.
Clang!
The elder's sword blocked Kang So-so's attack once more.
However, perhaps due to Heaven Severing's impact.
Step.
He took one step back to parry.
'Yes!'
Kang So-so inwardly cheered and prepared to press the assault excitedly.
Screeech!
Whiiiistle!
'Hm?'
Something sharp flying toward her cheek.
'An arrow?'
Her eyes widened, and by then the elder held a bow instead of a sword.
'What the—another one of those.'
A combat style utterly foreign to the murim.
Kang So-so's face showed bewilderment at this unseen method.
* * *
Kugugung!
Boom! Kwarung!
The clash of two absolutes dragged on.
The elder switched weapons to suit the moment, while Kang So-so demonstrated the Heavenly Demon's might with sword alone.
"......Hm."
And the being called Baek Mu-hyeon—or Bone-il—watching it all.
His expression seemed to say.
[This isn't the time for this......]
Shing!
- Sorry.
Ha Sera drew her sword, forming small letters.
"......"
I watched her, something dawning on me.
Déjà vu.
Something I'd never experienced, yet felt familiar...
'Ah!'
I clapped inwardly.
This is like the trial window situation.
His master, the Spear King, had done the same.
The disciple standing by while the master showed off.
"Hoo."
I exhaled briefly.
Ha Sera watched their fight with a stoic face.
'Well.'
How frustrating must it be for her?
That master had his own unique ability, but it wouldn't obey her will.
Must be plenty frustrating.
'Hm.'
I didn't know why things were unfolding this way in the dungeon, but for now.
Just watch.
* * *
Kwarung!
Kugugang!
Their fight seemed evenly matched.
But as it wore on, the tide shifted.
I knew it, Ha Sera knew it, even Baek Mu-hyeon knew it.
'The elder's winning.'
It showed on their faces.
Kang So-so's lips were pressed tight.
Unable to retort meant no leisure.
Sweat beaded her forehead, bewilderment in her eyes.
But the elder?
His face serene as a calm lake, clear ease in his movements and steps.
"Tsk tsk tsk. How cute, so cute."
And still talking smack... the momentum had already tilted, hadn't it?
'Huh.'
I marveled inwardly.
I knew the Myriad Arts Elder was strong.
But never dreamed he could take on a constellation-level foe.
I'd thought myself pretty strong, but seeing him...
My road ahead stretched far.
"See that, disciple?"
Shing!
The elder, intent on ending it, raised his sword again.
"This is where the greatness of Myriad Arts shines."
Kugugung!
In that instant, immense aura poured from the elder's body.
"Myriad Arts training ignores time, space, body or no body."
The surging energies began pressing Kang So-so.
"You rascal were impressive. Absolute of quite the world, I'd bet. Tsk tsk, probably stronger than me at my peak?"
'......Really?'
Well.
Kang So-so was constellation-grade.
Top of the top, even.
Recalling the elder's past.
He was definitely different now.
Far stronger, far deeper.
"But that rascal hasn't trained since dying. No hands to swing a sword. You think you can imagine it? No way. Easy to say, but try being a ghost. No sensations, no point to training."
"......"
"But Myriad Arts is different."
Right.
Myriad Arts was different.
No need to swing a sword to hone swordsmanship.
All techniques link.
Swordplay while fishing, spearmanship while swimming.
In other words.
"Exactly. Master just one brain-based art like illusions or go, and link it to train everything. Even without a body."
Honestly.
Never been a ghost, so who knows.
How could I grasp honing skills without senses?
But the elder was proving it now, materializing it.
He was undeniably far stronger than before.
'Constellation.'
No, beyond that.
Though his path diverged completely from mine.
Still.
The elder seemed set to truly prove Myriad Arts' worth this time.
"So, behold."
Wung!
The elder moved his sword slowly.
"The Myriad Arts I've advanced."
He moved at once.
Myriad Arts.
Secret Technique.
Magic Breaker.
"You there, rascal."
He even told Kang So-so directly.
"Try blocking this. If you can, tsk tsk."
Kwarururung!
Magic Breaker.
Aura that shatters magic.
Tailored to Kang So-so, a technique the elder had just created, no doubt.
"Grk."
Blood trickling from her mouth, Kang So-so struggled to raise her sword.
The elder's heavy blade descended upon her.
And soon.
Crack!
Kang So-so's sword shattered pathetically.
"Ah......"
A hollow sigh escaped her lips.
The moment victory was sealed.