182
Chapter 182: Master. I think I’m qualified now.
A domineering sword strike that shook the atmosphere.
The massive blade, drawing a wide arc, unleashed consecutive crescent-shaped sword energies. The enormous sword energy split the earth apart and attempted to cleave Dokgo Yul in half.
Kwaang!
Cracks spread around Dokgo Yul’s right foot as he stood his ground. He blocked Left Guardian’s sword energy head-on while simultaneously lowering the Ghost Eternal Sword and advancing.
Left Guardian’s violent energy waves pressed down on Dokgo Yul’s entire body, but Dokgo Yul countered by unleashing his own energy waves to neutralize them.
The energy waves of the two supreme masters clashed fiercely in the air. The Dokgo Heart Method’s energy waves, flaring up like flames, began pushing back Left Guardian’s energy.
‘Compared to my master, this is nothing.’
Before stepping onto today’s battlefield, Dokgo Yul had experienced dozens of life-and-death duels disguised as sparring matches under Mu Hwi.
Thanks to that, even though this was his first life-and-death battle against a Transcendent Realm master, Dokgo Yul did not shrink back in the slightest.
He could unleash everything he had without reservation.
A bold step forward.
A deep, prolonged breath—unlike before.
A heavy sword strike that cleaved through space without hesitation.
Kkeoeng!
A diagonal upward slash from the Dokgo Sword Technique. The layered sword energy carried his full weight and strength without waste.
The Crescent Demon Blade’s technique, aimed at bisecting his abdomen, was effortlessly deflected.
As Left Guardian clenched his teeth against the pain shooting from his wrist to his shoulder, the Ghost Eternal Sword, which had soared high into the sky, abruptly curved and aimed for Left Guardian’s shoulder.
The Dokgo Heart Method’s sword energy stacked repeatedly, causing the Ghost Eternal Sword’s blade to emit an intense blue light.
‘What a brutish sword technique.’
The terrifying sword force emanating from the Ghost Eternal Sword made Left Guardian feel threatened. He twisted his wrist, altering the direction of his massive blade to meet the attack head-on.
Kwagak!
As the deflected Ghost Eternal Sword tore through the ground, it left a deep gash wide enough to fit an arm.
Dokgo Yul embedded the Ghost Eternal Sword into the ground and used it as a pivot to launch himself forward.
Seeing Dokgo Yul’s feet thrusting toward his chest, Left Guardian stabbed forward with his left palm.
“Hueup!”
Pushed back by the force, Dokgo Yul steadied his breathing and tightened his forearm. Using the recoil to his advantage, the Ghost Eternal Sword, embedded in the ground, shot upward.
Dokgo Yul twisted his forearm and wrist inward, guiding the rising Ghost Eternal Sword toward Left Guardian’s chest.
Startled, Left Guardian swung his massive blade with an irritated expression, smashing it against the Ghost Eternal Sword.
Ignoring the wound opening on his collarbone, Left Guardian thrust his massive blade forward.
Dokgo Yul hastily pulled back, but blood spurted from his forearm.
“You move too noisily and pointlessly.”
At Left Guardian’s muttering, Dokgo Yul smirked.
His unpredictable movements, wielding a massive and heavy sword, were thanks to the Dokgo Body Method.
As he exchanged blows with Left Guardian, Dokgo Yul continued to confirm that his tactics were working.
‘He’s not an easy opponent, but not unbeatable.’
After pressing an acupoint to stop the bleeding, Dokgo Yul pushed the Dokgo Heart Method’s internal energy to its peak.
The newly refined Dokgo Heart Method’s energy, improved by Mu Hwi, rapidly spread through his body, invigorating him.
Staring into Left Guardian’s murderous eyes, Dokgo Yul stepped forward and swept the Ghost Eternal Sword downward.
Before him, black moonlight poured down—Left Guardian’s massive blade unleashing the Crescent Demon Blade.
Countless arcs drawn in the air.
Some formed perfect circles, others were semicircles, and some were even shorter curved trajectories.
Each line resembled the ever-changing phases of the moon in the night sky.
“Haaap!”
Even as his vision was filled with black moonlight, Dokgo Yul did not stop advancing.
For one who had mastered the Dokgo martial arts, retreat was not an option.
He shattered the crescent and semicircular sword energies one after another. Fragments of the shattered sword energy scattered in the air, leaving wounds on his body.
Yet, the Ghost Eternal Sword’s blade emitted an even fiercer, deeper blue light, pushing back the darkness drawn by the massive blade.
“Fool!”
Seeing Dokgo Yul charging recklessly into the Crescent Demon Blade’s range, Left Guardian mercilessly swung his massive blade downward.
Amid the countless arcs floating in the air, a straight line—unlike any before—stretched out cleanly.
The many moons lingering in the air were severed.
Moon-Slaying Falling Blade.
Along with the moons, Dokgo Yul’s body was torn apart. Three deep gashes crossed his chest in an instant, but even as blood sprayed, he did not stop.
Stepping forward, Dokgo Yul firmly stomped on the blood droplets that had fallen from his own body.
‘I read and countered his trajectory. It’s not fatal.’
Despite the searing pain in his chest, Dokgo Yul pressed on. Gritting his teeth, he tightened his grip on the Ghost Eternal Sword and held it steady.
The Ghost Eternal Sword, layered with sword energy, extended boldly, crushing the incoming black moonlight.
The Dokgo Sword Technique tore through and penetrated the Crescent Demon Blade’s relentless strikes. A piercing blue straight line erupted like a beam of light.
Puhak!
Seeing the blood spurting from his flank, Left Guardian’s eyes turned red.
Despite already having three or four visible wounds, Dokgo Yul showed no signs of retreating. Enraged, Left Guardian roared,
“You brat!”
As if provoked by Dokgo Yul’s relentless advance, Left Guardian’s stance shifted.
Cloaked in demonic energy that rippled like black mist, he stepped forward and slashed his massive blade horizontally and vertically.
The Ferocious Demon Restoration Technique—rapidly healing wounds.
The Crescent Demon Blade—boasting violent and chaotic techniques.
With these two demonic arts, Left Guardian had no reason to back down from a direct confrontation.
The two supreme masters simultaneously stepped forward, thrusting their weapons at each other.
Kwaga-gang!
The Ghost Eternal Sword and the massive blade clashed endlessly, producing heavy metallic sounds like a giant hammer striking repeatedly.
As the weapons crossed, blood spurted from both men’s bodies simultaneously. Yet, Left Guardian wore a bloodthirsty grin.
‘Offense and defense are evenly matched, but…’
Though both were accumulating similar damage, Dokgo Yul’s wounds remained unhealed, while Left Guardian’s Ferocious Demon Restoration Technique continuously closed his injuries.
“You dare challenge me head-on?!”
“Who do you think you are?!”
Dokgo Yul, spraying blood, charged forward again.
Left Guardian flinched as he extended his massive blade.
Dokgo Yul knew this disadvantage better than anyone.
‘Then why does he have such eyes?’
Dokgo Yul’s eyes, bloodshot and blazing, showed no sign of defeat.
Instead, they burned fiercely, shimmering like heat haze. And his unwavering steps forward remained steadfast.
Kwaang!
Left Guardian barely blocked the vertically descending Ghost Eternal Sword, his eyes narrowing. The massive blade had a hairline crack—tiny but undeniable.
In contrast, Dokgo Yul’s Ghost Eternal Sword remained pristine, radiating a cold blue light.
‘I must end this.’
Though the Ferocious Demon Restoration Technique healed his wounds, it was not omnipotent. The internal energy consumption was immense, and his dantian was nearly depleted.
Left Guardian’s massive blade was dyed with thick sword energy.
The black sword energy scattered in the air, forming a massive circle.
Full Moon Starry Night.
Facing this ultimate technique, Dokgo Yul felt as if night had suddenly fallen, his vision darkening.
Whether it was due to the black sword energy filling the space or the blood loss, he didn’t know. But Dokgo Yul smiled.
‘Perfect. Now.’
He had waited for Left Guardian to unleash his ultimate technique.
For this moment, he had purposefully advanced more than necessary while executing the Dokgo Sword Technique—to make Left Guardian feel cornered.
The technique he was about to use was one he had only partially learned.
It couldn’t be shown repeatedly.
Thus, he had saved it for the final decisive strike.
‘Master.’
Remembering his master who had taught him this new technique, Dokgo Yul moved the Ghost Eternal Sword.
His knees bent slightly, his upper body leaning forward. The trajectory of the Ghost Eternal Sword resembled the Dokgo Sword Technique but was distinctly different.
Against the black full moon descending defiantly toward the earth, a new path of Dokgo was drawn.
Like a shooting star, the sword’s path split and tore through the Full Moon Starry Night’s technique.
As the Ghost Eternal Sword extended, the Crescent Demon Blade’s ultimate technique was gradually dismantled. Left Guardian’s eyes widened in shock.
“What?!”
Left Guardian hastily thrust his massive blade, but the Ghost Eternal Sword, layered with sword energy, erupted in a brilliant light as it descended.
“Blade-Breaking Pursuit of the First Strike.”
Chjeong!
The massive blade split into three pieces, and simultaneously, Left Guardian’s chest was cleaved open.
Left Guardian desperately swung his left palm, but Dokgo Yul flipped the Ghost Eternal Sword and used the Heavenly-Shuddering Demon Technique to sever Left Guardian’s left arm as well.
Recognizing the technique, Left Guardian’s eyes bulged.
It was the same technique the Sword Saint had used to cut off his finger during the Black Night Palace’s opening ceremony.
“How do you know this technique? Who… Are you?”
Dokgo Yul, lowering the Ghost Eternal Sword, stopped moving for the first time since the battle began.
Blood dripped heavily onto the ground. Covered in wounds, it wouldn’t be surprising if he collapsed at any moment.
Yet, his gaze remained firm as he looked at Left Guardian.
“Hmm.”
He had been about to answer with his alias, ‘Wolf Blade’ but he closed his mouth. After a brief hesitation, he spoke again.
“Dokgo… Dokgo the Sword Devil.”
“Dokgo the Sword Devil?”
Dokgo Yul swung the Ghost Eternal Sword upward toward Left Guardian’s neck. Watching the severed head rise into the air, he closed his eyes.
The stinging pain from the blood dripping into his eyes was unbearable.
‘Master. I think I’m qualified now.’
Now that he had reached the same realm his master had in his past life, he could confidently call himself the Sword Devil.
From now on, Dokgo Yul would proudly carry his master’s name.
As the sole successor of the Dokgo lineage.
***
As Dokgo Yul beheaded Left Guardian, fierce clashes between the Martial Alliance and the Black Night Palace erupted across other battlefronts.
Miya (迷夜, Bewildering Night), Goeya (壞夜, Ruinous Night), Manya (萬夜, Ten Thousand Nights), Jinya (眞夜, True Night).
“Gentlemen, how about enjoying the night dew with this maiden?”
Thick pink demonic energy spread across the battlefield. Martial artists touched by it felt their hearts flutter unnaturally, their instincts overpowering their reason.
“Ugh!”
The blades of those targeting the demons dulled.
“Kyahahaha!”
“Come play with us!”
The seductive laughter of Miya’s women echoed, drawing the martial artists’ gazes involuntarily.
Some began to sway, their eyelids drooping as their movements slowed.
“Damn it, sleep demons attacking now of all times?”
“Shake off the drowsiness!”
“Everyone, focus your internal energy and steady your minds!”
Bewildering Night Dream Demon Technique.
Dream Soul Sound Technique.
The demons of Miya unleashed these two demonic techniques simultaneously, affecting the Martial Alliance’s fighters on all fronts.
Casualties mounted rapidly as martial artists fell helplessly.
“Amitabha!”
A lion’s roar infused with sacred internal energy erupted from the mouths of the Eighteen Arhats. The demon-dispelling energy spread across the battlefield, snapping the affected martial artists out of their daze.
“We’ll handle these donors.”
As the Shaolin monks, led by the Eighteen Arhats, charged toward the Miya demons, the Plum Blossom Swordsmen also cut through demons while advancing.
“There!”
As Hyeon Baek shouted, a sword-wielding arm surged from the sky—belonging to the leader of the Namgung Family’s Ten Heroes of the Vast Sky.
Kkagakang!
Mu-hwa deflected a demon’s sword aimed at finishing off a wounded hero, while Mu-cheol leaped up and slammed down a sword gust, blocking further demonic advances.
The Plum Blossom Swordsmen stepped forward, shielding the Ten Heroes, who were on the verge of collapse.
“This can’t be…”
“The Ten Heroes of the Vast Sky, reduced to this?”
Seven of the Ten Heroes had already fallen, while only two of their demonic opponents lay defeated.
“We’ll take care of them.”
At Hyeon Baek’s words, the leader of the Ten Heroes nodded weakly, clutching his arm.
“Be careful. They’re no ordinary foes.”
As the Ten Heroes retreated and the Plum Blossom Swordsmen took their positions, the demonic swordsmen who had nearly annihilated them turned their attention to the newcomers.
“Plum Blossom Swordsmen.”
“Who are you?”
“The Eighteen Swords of the True Night Palace.”
Hyeon Baek raised his sword at the demon’s words.
Though he had never heard of the Eighteen Swords of the True Night Palace, the fact that they belonged to Jinya (True Night) was enough to warrant caution.
‘Of the Black Night Palace’s Six Nights, they have the fewest members but are said to be an elite force.’
The leader of the Eighteen Swords smirked at Hyeon Baek’s wary gaze.
“The Sword Saint poured his heart into raising the Plum Blossom Swordsmen, didn’t he? Tearing you apart will be a fine gift for him.”
Hyeon Baek responded with a cold smile.
“Formation.”
In an instant, the Twenty-Four Hands Plum Blossom Sword Formation unfolded. The Eighteen Swords launched themselves toward it simultaneously.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes, Master.”
At the formation’s forefront, Hyeon Baek and Mujin began blooming plum blossoms side by side.