Chapter 858: Settlement
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 858: Settlement
Swoosh!
The tip of Muyang’s sword pierced through the air with a sharp whistle.
His target was Ouyang Ping’s heart.
"Not so fast!"
Whoosh!
Seeing the thrust, Ouyang Ping quickly swung his greatsword upward from below.
Clang!
Ouyang Ping’s greatsword collided with Muyang’s blade, parrying it upward with sheer force.
In an instant, Muyang’s chest was left wide open.
An opening!
Ouyang Ping gripped the raised greatsword with both hands.
Then, he brought it crashing down toward Muyang’s chest.
Whoosh!
Swoosh!
Watching the giant blade descend, Muyang kicked out like a flash of lightning.
Clang!
His foot struck the flat side of the greatsword.
Boom!
The trajectory of the blade, which had been heading for his chest, shifted to the side and slammed into the bare earth.
Thud!
Muyang stepped onto the spine of the greatsword embedded in the ground and activated the Thousand-Catty Press.
He pinned the weapon down completely, rendering it immovable.
Immediately after, he swung his sword toward Ouyang Ping’s neck.
He intended to end it with a single decapitating blow.
It’s over!
Muyang’s sword drew closer to Ouyang Ping’s throat.
He was certain.
With this single strike, he would take the man's head.
"Aaaaaaaah!!!"
Bulge!
Twitch!
Suddenly, something unexpected happened.
A thunderous roar echoed through the clearing, and Ouyang Ping’s greatsword began to rise.
Wh-what?!
Muyang, who had been standing on the blade, felt his body wobble.
He lost his balance as the greatsword was suddenly wrenched upward.
Swoosh!
Muyang’s sword, which had been aimed at the neck, sliced through empty air.
The trajectory had been completely thrown off as his body was lifted.
Tsk.
Muyang clicked his tongue inwardly.
He realized his killing blow had come to naught.
Swoosh!
Just then, something tore through the wind and lunged toward him.
Muyang looked down.
There, he saw Ouyang Ping’s crimson palm, radiating extreme Yang heat, thrusting toward him.
Dangerous!
Vroooom!
Muyang quickly circulated his internal energy.
He channeled his power into his Yongcheon Point.
Clang!
Using the spine of the greatsword as a foothold, he erupted energy from his Yongcheon Point and propelled himself backward.
Swoosh!
Muyang’s figure soared into the air and flew back.
He had successfully opened up some distance.
"Slippery rat."
Ouyang Ping watched him with a look of profound displeasure.
He clearly didn't like how Muyang kept dodging and weaving.
"......What terrifying strength."
Muyang spoke, his voice tinged with genuine surprise.
He had clearly used the Thousand-Catty Press to pin the greatsword down.
Yet, the man had lifted it with a sudden burst of raw power.
How could he not be shocked?
"Surprised by just this? I still have plenty more to show you."
Ouyang Ping glared at him with eyes full of competitive spirit.
The losses will outweigh the gains.
Meeting that gaze, Muyang sighed inwardly.
It seemed this was going to be a grueling fight.
*
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
Ouyang Ping’s greatsword relentlessly hammered against Muyang’s blade.
Slide!
Slide!
Every time the greatsword swung, Muyang’s body was pushed back mercilessly.
It was all well and good that he had raised his sword with such bravado, but he was being overwhelmed by the man's monstrous strength.
"Where did all that confidence go, Sect Leader?!"
Ouyang Ping roared as he watched Muyang being driven back without reprieve.
Clang!
He slammed down his greatsword, which was now wreathed in flames.
Skid!
"Ugh!"
Muyang barely managed to block with his sword, but he groaned as he was pushed back once more.
With every collision, the impact was accompanied by a surge of fiery energy that invaded his body.
"Come on! Show me! Show me the dignity of a leader! Sect Leader!"
Whoosh!
His eyes burning with fighting spirit, Ouyang Ping unleashed a devastating strike with his greatsword.
Thud!
"Gah!"
A thunderous boom erupted, and Muyang was forced down to one knee.
He simply couldn't withstand the massive force erupting from the greatsword.
"Farewell, Muyang!"
Ouyang Ping raised his greatsword high above the kneeling Muyang.
He intended to cleave through both the man and his sword.
This is bad.
Muyang knew it.
This was an attack he could neither block nor dodge.
With one knee pinned to the ground, he couldn't use his movement techniques, nor could he exert proper strength.
If that greatsword came down now, he wouldn't be able to hold out.
Then, I must attack.
Muyang concentrated his internal energy into his supporting leg.
Boom!
He erupted the energy all at once.
His body shot forward, closing the distance until he was right in front of Ouyang Ping.
There wasn't enough time to swing his sword.
Ouyang Ping’s greatsword would descend faster than he could strike.
Swoosh!
Instead, Muyang thrust his palm toward Ouyang Ping.
He poured a significant amount of internal energy into the strike.
Thwack!
The palm, fueled by his forward momentum, slammed directly into Ouyang Ping’s chest.
It was a successful hit.
"Urgh..."
Ouyang Ping began to stumble back several paces.
Unable to withstand the force of the palm strike, he was forced into a retreat.
Good!
Muyang rejoiced inwardly.
He thought he could use this chance to widen the gap.
...You son of a bitch!
Meanwhile, sparks flew in Ouyang Ping’s eyes after being struck unexpectedly in the chest.
He hadn't anticipated Muyang would show such resourcefulness.
But this is just a death struggle!
Ouyang Ping grit his teeth.
He forced down the urge to vomit and concentrated all his strength into his thick, log-like legs.
Bulge! Twitch!
His muscles expanded wildly, anchoring his retreating legs firmly into the ground.
Then, he swung his greatsword with lightning speed.
His only thought was to cut the man in two.
Whoosh!
Ouyang Ping’s greatsword slashed down.
A thin red line began to appear vertically across Muyang’s face and torso.
Splurt!
A moment later, blood erupted from Muyang’s face and body.
He had been cut clean by Ouyang Ping’s blade.
"Dammit!"
Sensing the spray of blood, Muyang let out an uncharacteristic curse and kicked out.
Thud!
He struck Ouyang Ping’s lower abdomen and used the recoil to fling himself backward.
Muyang’s body floated through the air as freely as a dragon walking among the clouds before landing gracefully.
He was now a considerable distance away from Ouyang Ping.
"Haa... haa... haa..."
Having gained some distance, Muyang began to pant heavily.
The blood flowing incessantly made even breathing an agonizing chore.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
Muyang quickly reached out and struck several acupoints on his body.
However, the bleeding showed no signs of stopping.
The wound was deeper than he had thought.
"Blegh!"
Just then, the sound of someone retching reached his ears.
Looking ahead, he saw Ouyang Ping spitting out a mouthful of blood.
"......Hahaha.... Sect Leader.... your palm strike.... is quite.... fierce..."
After spitting out the blood, Ouyang Ping spoke, his eyes filled with murderous intent.
"Haa... haa.......... You... stubborn... bastard."
Muyang replied through ragged breaths.
Ouyang Ping was indeed stubborn.
Despite suffering internal injuries severe enough to make him vomit blood, he had forced himself to endure and swing his blade.
All for the sake of cutting Muyang down.
How could he be called anything but a stubborn bastard?
"Hehehe...... To survive in the Great Desert... one must have... at least this much... tenacity, don't you think?"
Ouyang Ping chuckled as if amused.
He raised his greatsword again and rested it on his shoulder.
Then, he slowly lowered his stance.
He was ready to strike at any moment.
"Now...... let’s settle this.... Sect Leader."
He spoke, his eyes filled with venom as he stared at Muyang.
".....You are relentless...... truly relentless.."
Meeting that gaze, Muyang’s expression turned weary.
He was appalled by the man's tenacity—how he continued to charge without tiring despite internal injuries that would have incapacitated anyone else.
"Whew."
Muyang let out a deep sigh.
This man was a monster.
A freakish monster who would keep coming even if his arms were severed, his legs cut off, or his insides shredded—as long as he could take Muyang’s head.
He couldn't win like this.
He couldn't face such a man with the mindset of a Sect Leader.
I have no choice.
Muyang thought.
Just for a moment.
Just for a brief moment, he would set aside his position as Sect Leader.
He would not be the Sect Leader who had to be an example, but a martial artist who simply wanted to survive.
Grip!
Muyang gripped his sword so hard it felt like it might shatter.
Vroooom!
He began to manifest his will.
The will to kill Ouyang Ping.
A massive, suffocating murderous aura began to radiate from him.
It was a starkly different image from the profound and mystical aura he had projected before.
"Hehehe... Interesting... very interesting!"
Seeing this, Ouyang Ping burst into laughter.
The Sect Leader of Kunlun, a prestigious sect known for its profound mysteries, was now revealing a sword filled with killing intent.
He had discarded the mystical essence of the Living Sword.
How could Ouyang Ping not laugh?
"Fine! If you’re going to give it your all, then I shall give my all to cut you down!"
Whoosh!
Flames began to erupt from his entire body.
His Blazing Divine Art reacted to his heightened emotions, conjuring a massive inferno.
"I will show you the ultimate technique of the Blazing Divine Art!!!"
The soaring flames grew larger and larger until they began to take shape.
Two massive horns.
Piercing eyes.
A gaping maw.
Sharp teeth lined within.
A long, straight body.
A massive form that commanded awe just by looking at it.
It was a dragon.
The divine spirit of myth and the calamitous beast of legend.
"Fire Dragon Descent."
Ouyang Ping spoke in a calm tone.
ROAAAAAAR!
The fire dragon let out a monstrous roar and opened its massive maw.
It looked as if it were about to swallow all of Kunlun.
"........A dragon, is it?"
Muyang looked at the fire dragon with a calm gaze.
"Interesting."
He chuckled softly and slowly raised his sword.
A ferocious blade, stained with killing intent.
"Do you think you can handle this?"
Ouyang Ping asked with a sneer.
Fire Dragon Descent was an invincible technique, the pinnacle of the Blazing Divine Art.
It wasn't something that could be stopped by a mere swing of a sword.
Yet, how could he raise his sword so calmly in the face of such a dragon?
He couldn't understand it.
"I feel like I can cut it now."
"Do you think something will change just because you’ve picked up a Killing Sword instead of a Living Sword, Sect Leader?"
"It will change."
"Nonsense! The Living Sword and the Killing Sword are merely differences in disposition! Nothing changes!"
"Normally, that would be true....... but because this is Kunlun, it can change."
Muyang spoke with a composed expression.
"Then I shall test it! Let’s see what can change because it is Kunlun!"
Whoosh!
Ouyang Ping swung his flame-wreathed greatsword toward Muyang.
ROAAAAAAR!
The fire dragon swirling around him let out a roar.
It lunged toward Muyang.
It intended to swallow him whole.
It’s over!
Ouyang Ping was certain.
It was all over.
The man could never withstand his fire dragon.
ROAAAAAAR!
The fire dragon closed in on Muyang.
It’s hot.
Muyang felt the immense heat and fire contained within the dragon.
It was indeed a technique worthy of being called the essence of the Blazing Divine Art.
But I am not afraid.
Strangely enough, he wasn't afraid.
In fact, it almost felt trivial.
He felt he could easily overcome it.
"The Great Void is a vast space that encompasses all things. At first glance, it appears empty, but in reality, it is a space filled with the Qi of all creation."
Vroooom!
A massive energy seeped into Muyang’s sword, and the blade began to ring with a continuous sword resonance.
"If one imbues the sword with the Qi contained in this overflowing space, it becomes a certain-kill blade that can slay even a dragon."
Step.
Muyang took a light step forward.
He let his sword hang low in his right hand.
Ready to swing at any moment.
ROAAAAAAR!
The moment the fire dragon opened its maw right in front of him—
Swoosh!
He swung.
With the intent to slay the dragon.
A massive sword wind erupted and flew toward the fire dragon.
BOOM!
The sword wind and the fire dragon collided, locked in a fierce struggle.
Neither side gave an inch.
"Wh-what on earth is that..."
Ouyang Ping looked on in horror.
How could he unleash a sword wind that could rival the fire dragon, the pinnacle of the Blazing Divine Art?
CRACKLE!
Shatter!
It was then.
The sword wind that had been clashing with the fire dragon sliced through the dragon’s wide-open maw and shot forward.
Toward the dragon’s master, Ouyang Ping.
"No... this can't be..."
Ouyang Ping denied reality.
He simply couldn't believe it.
How could such an unrealistic thing happen?
Swoosh!
The sword wind, having completely cut through the fire dragon, flew toward Ouyang Ping.
"Dammit!"
Ouyang Ping quickly raised his greatsword.
He intended to block the sword wind at any cost.
Crack!
But it was a futile struggle.
The moment it collided with the sword wind, cracks began to appear on his greatsword.
It couldn't withstand it.
The massive power contained within the sword wind was too much.
"Daaaaammiiiiit!!!"
Ouyang Ping screamed.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
A massive explosion and a tremendous shockwave washed over his entire body.
He was swallowed by the overwhelming power of the sword wind.
"AAAAAAAAGH!!!"
Ouyang Ping’s screams filled the air.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
"...Haa... haa... haa... haa."
Muyang panted heavily.
He seemed to have reached his physical limit after pushing himself so hard.
The thought of just collapsing and resting filled his mind.
But he didn't collapse.
Instead, he began to walk forward.
Thud... thud...
One step at a time.
A heavy, labored walk.
How long had he been walking?
"Cough... cough... cough..."
Finally, the sight of a battered Ouyang Ping came into view.
His condition was wretched.
He was coughing up blood incessantly.
His left arm and leg were mangled.
There was almost no life left in his eyes.
He was on the verge of death.
"Do you have any last words?"
Muyang looked down at the broken man and spoke.
".....Cough....... At the end... cough.... what... was that... sword technique.."
He spat out blood as he asked Muyang.
He was desperately curious about the massive power that had slain his fire dragon.
"Great Void Dragon-Slaying Sword."
Muyang replied in a calm tone.
"It is Kunlun’s greatest sword technique, one I had kept sealed because its killing intent was too profound."
"Heh... cough...... It’s an honor.. cough... to be killed... cough... by the best..... cough."
A thick smile spread across Ouyang Ping’s lips.
He felt it wasn't such a bad ending.
Slide.
Then, he slowly closed his eyes.
He looked remarkably at peace.
The Vice Palace Master of the Sun Divine Palace.
An absolute powerhouse who had reached the Upper Stage of the Transcendent Realm, the supposed limit of humanity.
Ouyang Ping thus met his end.