190
Chapter 190: Finally Became a Demon (魔)
The Sword Immortal clicked his tongue as he examined Kang Ho-baek’s wounds.
“Spear Sovereign at least made a clean cut. I suppose that’s something to be thankful for.”
At the Sword Immortal’s words, Kang Ho-baek let out a bitter smile.
The Sword Immortal’s hands moved meticulously and skillfully as he tended to Kang Ho-baek’s injuries—a skill honed from his days as a late-stage Jiju, when he practiced medicine to aid commoners who couldn’t afford physicians.
“Hold still.”
“Yes.”
The Sword Immortal sprinkled pre-prepared golden wound medicine over Kang Ho-baek’s injuries. As he looked at the blood-soaked bandages, he asked,
“Do you not plan to descend?”
Kang Ho-baek shook his head.
“Since I’ve come this far, shouldn’t I see it through? Only then can I face the subordinates of the Martial Alliance with dignity.”
“Do as you wish.”
The Sword Immortal, watching Kang Ho-baek smile, turned his gaze to the old bamboo hat placed beside him.
Kang Ho-baek had always worn that bamboo hat, except when sleeping, joking that it was the symbol of a wandering warrior.
“You’ve taken off the bamboo hat.”
Kang Ho-baek nodded at the Sword Immortal’s question and laughed.
“Yes. I’ve walked far enough. Now, it’s time to stop and rest. Besides, I have a reliable junior to trust.”
The Sword Immortal smiled in return and gently stroked Kang Ho-baek’s scarred hand.
“Indeed. You’ve suffered greatly. These hands have saved countless lives.”
“Hearing such words from you puts my heart at ease.”
Clap! Clap!
The sound of applause echoed from Chaoyang Peak.
It came from the Palace Lord, who had been observing the Hwasan Sword Debate.
“How heartwarming. After all that growling, you’ve reached such a harmonious conclusion.”
Mu Hwi responded to the Palace Lord’s sarcasm in kind.
“From what I see, your master-disciple relationship seems just as messy. Why not take this opportunity to reconcile?”
At Mu Hwi’s words, the nostrils of the Sacheon Alliance Leader flared.
“Keuk. You’re just asking to get smacked by the Sword Saint again. Didn’t you act the same way during the visitation?”
The Sacheon Alliance Leader, slapping his knee, chuckled in amusement at Mu Hwi’s remark.
“Hmph.”
The Palace Lord forced a smile, but his eyes remained cold. Soon, even the smile vanished from his face as he slowly rose from his seat.
The Palace Lord’s gaze shifted between the Sword Immortal and Heukcheon (Black Heaven).
Two men who had yet to duel. No matter which one the Palace Lord chose, it wouldn’t be surprising. He had openly displayed hostility toward Heukcheon, making it obvious to everyone.
The Palace Lord raised his fist toward Heukcheon and bowed respectfully.
“Master. Will you finally assess the progress of this inadequate disciple?”
Heukcheon nodded faintly.
“Very well. Let us proceed.”
Heukcheon stood and walked toward the Palace Lord. As he drew closer, the Palace Lord’s smile deepened, but his aura grew calmer.
Stopping at a suitable distance, Heukcheon read the Palace Lord’s energy and spoke.
“It seems you’ve devoured all the previous Night Lords and the remnants of the Old Demon Cave.”
At Heukcheon’s words, the Palace Lord’s lips twisted further. Though he pretended to sever ties, Heukcheon knew everything that transpired in the Black Night Palace.
‘So, he knew after all.’
The previous Night Lords and the demonic beings of the Old Demon Cave—while they outwardly followed the Palace Lord, they were truly loyal only to Heukcheon.
Thus, the Palace Lord had no hesitation in eliminating them. The Black Night Palace had to be purified. Because it belonged to him.
“Yes. I’ve put in some effort to meet your expectations, Master.”
“Expectations… What meaning is there in walking the demonic path if you’re merely pushed by another’s hand? To become a true demon, one must willingly plunge into the demonic and stain their essence with its color.”
The Palace Lord only offered a twisted smile in response to Heukcheon’s reprimand.
“Yes. That’s why this disciple now seeks to willingly immerse himself in the demonic.”
Finally, the Palace Lord unleashed a thick, murderous aura toward Heukcheon.
A viscous, long-contained killing intent spread alongside demonic energy, yet Heukcheon merely clasped his hands behind his back.
‘This is truly the demonic path.’
Mu Hwi shook his head as he watched the disciple openly declare his intent to kill his master.
As demonic energy began to writhe around the Black Night Palace Lord’s body, the light around Heukcheon gradually dimmed.
Though the sun still hung high, the area around the Chaoyang Peak darkened as if night had fallen.
“Pour out everything without regret.”
At Heukcheon’s words, the Black Night Palace Lord lunged forward.
Like a bolt of lightning, the Palace Lord unleashed a palm strike. Heukcheon, freeing his hands from behind his back, responded in kind.
Crash!
Boom!
With a sound like a bursting drum, the Palace Lord stepped back with his left foot, dispersing the shockwave from the collision through his stance. Firmly regaining balance, he immediately extended both hands.
Each movement of the Palace Lord’s hands, wrapped in thick demonic energy, left black afterimages in the air, vibrating the atmosphere.
Between the brows. The solar plexus. The philtrum. The eyes.
Each strike targeted vital points—sinister and lethal techniques, unbecoming of a disciple against his master.
Even for a demonic practitioner of the Palace Lord’s caliber, he could have transcended such crude techniques, yet he showed no intention to do so.
Instead, his attacks felt even more murderous than pure demonic techniques.
Bang!
With both hands thickly coated in demonic energy, the Palace Lord deflected the incoming palm force and drove toward Heukcheon’s lower body.
Heukcheon’s foot rose to head height before swiftly dropping. The Palace Lord barely dodged the kick, twisting his body to unleash a series of wind blades.
Heukcheon merely extended a finger, pressing down as if to crush the wind blades, scattering them effortlessly.
Meanwhile, the Palace Lord gathered demonic energy into his palms.
Demon Void Flow Scatter (魔空流散).
The demonic energy swirling between his palms erupted toward Heukcheon in a cylindrical blast.
The thick demonic energy engulfed Heukcheon’s upper body.
Kwaaaang!
The Palace Lord’s eyes widened.
Heukcheon had extended a palm, twisting the flow of the Demon Void Flow Scatter in all directions.
The energy, meant to surge forth like a single river, split into dozens of streams, shooting into the sky.
Kwa-kakang!
The demonic energy soared diagonally, shattering a massive rock before dissipating into the air.
‘A monster!’
Shocked yet sharp-minded, the Palace Lord moved swiftly, maintaining the close distance.
Bang!
Crossing his hands, the Palace Lord unleashed waves of sinister energy, dispersing the demonic energy around Heukcheon before slashing diagonally with a blade-like hand.
Swish!
The demonic energy surrounding Heukcheon split apart. Before it could reform, the Palace Lord forced a palm strike into the gap.
Boom!
The explosion erupted right before Heukcheon, but he merely waved a hand, effortlessly dispersing the force.
As Heukcheon twisted his ankle and swayed, the Palace Lord advanced two steps, relentlessly targeting Heukcheon’s vitals.
Like a beast baring its fangs, the Palace Lord struck without hesitation at every opportunity.
Unlike the Palace Lord’s frantic footwork, Heukcheon moved leisurely, his calm demeanor further enraging the Palace Lord.
“Master. You seem at ease.”
“Have you warmed up enough?”
“Yes. Let’s get serious.”
The demonic energy around the Palace Lord began to tremble. What had been like scattered smoke now thickened, writhing as if alive.
Splitting into eight tendrils, the energy lashed toward Heukcheon like whips—as if the Palace Lord had grown eight new arms.
Kwaga-gakang!
The Palace Lord’s demonic energy rampaged, sweeping around Heukcheon. Amidst the chaos, the Palace Lord himself lunged, delivering a fierce punch.
Heukcheon dodged, and the demonic energy struck the ground, leaving deep imprints.
‘This power is extraordinary.’
Mu Hwi, sensing the shockwaves, scrutinized the duel.
‘Is this the subtlety of the Formless Sword, or simply the grotesqueness of demonic techniques?’
He analyzed the Palace Lord’s techniques, knowing their roots lay with Heukcheon.
‘A pity.’
While the Palace Lord unleashed relentless techniques, Heukcheon had yet to display any noteworthy demonic techniques.
The eight tendrils coiled around Heukcheon, squeezing as if to crush him. Finally, Heukcheon’s dormant demonic energy reacted.
Pa-pa-pak!
Spikes of demonic energy erupted from Heukcheon’s body like a porcupine’s quills, shredding the Palace Lord’s energy. The spikes then vibrated, transforming into spears.
“Endure this.”
Twenty demonic spears shot toward the Palace Lord in different trajectories.
The sight resembled dozens of Qi-Guided Spears raining down, narrowing Mu Hwi’s eyes.
‘To separate and control them individually…’
But the Palace Lord’s wide-eyed reaction suggested he couldn’t manipulate demonic energy like Heukcheon.
“Heh… Fascinating.”
The Sacheon Alliance Leader smirked coldly.
This wasn’t merely multiplying the number of attacks. Each spear carried a different spear technique, as if twenty spear masters were striking simultaneously.
The Sacheon Alliance Leader studied Heukcheon.
‘I thought he specialized in fist techniques. If he can suddenly wield spear techniques, it wouldn’t be surprising if he reveals even more.’
Other supreme masters also noted the vast breadth of Heukcheon’s martial prowess.
“Kuaaah!”
The Palace Lord roared, spreading demonic energy like a massive curtain. His hands moved rapidly, leaving countless palm and hand afterimages in the air.
Kurung!
As twenty demonic spears struck downward, a thunderous explosion erupted.
The collision between the Palace Lord’s techniques and the spears unleashed a devastating shockwave, sweeping across Chaoyang Peak.
A mushroom cloud of dust rose, but Heukcheon waved a hand, summoning a gust that blew it away.
For the first time, Heukcheon’s lips curled as he observed the Palace Lord.
“You endured.”
The Palace Lord stood unsteadily in the crater, his body battered. Blood flowed from numerous wounds, and his right hand was completely gone.
Yet his eyes still burned with killing intent.
“The old you would have died. Devouring the Old Demon Lords was worth it.”
Heukcheon, who had remained stationary until now, finally stepped forward.
The Palace Lord chuckled weakly.
“Palace Lord… No, my disciple.”
“Yes. Master.”
The darkness around Heukcheon expanded, growing denser as he walked forward, cloaked in night.
“The participants of this sword debate exchanged blows and gained insights. Did you, my disciple, learn anything?”
The Palace Lord stared back.
“I felt nothing.”
“I see. Your progress didn’t impress me either.”
Heukcheon slowly raised a hand.
“How amusing. Though we are the closest here, our duel was the driest and bleakest.”
The Palace Lord straightened his back and laughed.
“That’s your fault, Master. You must have sensed something as you endured this disciple’s attacks.”
“True. Anger, regret, remorse—I felt many things. None moved me.”
The Palace Lord coughed up black blood and met Heukcheon’s gaze.
“You said those who walk the demonic path beyond human principles are demons… But you, Master, have transcended even that to become true demon (魔).”
Heukcheon tilted his head, then suddenly laughed—a laugh so powerful it shook Chaoyang Peak.
“Hmm!”
The surrounding supreme masters had to circulate their inner energy to withstand it. Heukcheon grabbed the Palace Lord by the throat as he teetered on collapse.
“Indeed. I began as a human, became a demon, and now… I have finally become a true demon.”
His grip tightened.
“My foolish disciple has enlightened me. Well done.”
The surging demonic energy around Heukcheon enveloped them both.
Woong!
The energy swelled into a massive black pillar. When it dissipated, only Heukcheon remained, standing tall.
He glanced at where the Palace Lord had been, then turned without hesitation toward the Sword Immortal.
“Sword Immortal. Your turn.”