Chapter 440
Chapter 440
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 440
Chapter Title: Black Dragon Society (2)
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Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero Ha Seung-hoon.
He was the hero who had earned resounding merits for thwarting the Demonic Cult's schemes in the final war that erupted in Beijing—a supernova who had ascended to the Aura Realm at just over twenty years old.
Those who knew of him all agreed that the next greatest under heaven was already set in stone.
Given that, once all the wars had ended, it was only natural that a multitude of factions showered him with offers.
He was merely lingering with House Zhuge due to a slight connection and wasn't formally affiliated with them, after all.
Securing him would mean gaining both overwhelming might and fame in one fell swoop.
"Even though you thwarted the Demonic Cult's schemes and brought them down, that doesn't mean everything is over. The remnants who survived are still sowing chaos across the world, and countless people remain trapped in suffering, unable to escape the turmoil. I want to help them, even if just a little."
In that context, his declaration to embark on a journey of chivalry across the continent was bound to stir things up.
From House Zhuge's perspective, who were pouring all their efforts into rebuilding their clan, it felt like a treasure already in their grasp might slip away to someone else—a perfectly understandable crisis.
"I want to join that noble cause too! I only survived thanks to everyone's help. I want to repay that debt to the world somehow. Ah! O-Of course, the debt I owe you personally, Young Master Ha, I'll settle on my own..."
They had no choice but to reluctantly approve the insistent pleas of Zhuge Hye-mi, the clan's precious pearl, and that played no small part.
At the very least, with her by his side, he wouldn't suddenly become some other faction's son-in-law.
It might even lead him to fully commit and return to the clan sooner than expected.
Of course, her newfound ability to wield proper sorcery as a child of the dragon was a major factor too.
Even in House Zhuge, brimming with theoretical geniuses, she had always stood out as exceptionally gifted.
"Heavens, to think our clan's pride and joy has already..."
"Unbelievable! Dragon sorcery! Ha, just once more! Show us one more time!"
"If only we could incorporate that into our family's sorcery..."
Some elders, highly valuing her talents, argued she should be kept safely protected within the clan.
But the clan head and grand patriarch, who held final authority, supported her wishes and permitted her to venture out.
"However, there are a few conditions. First..."
Of course, that came with escorts from the clan's experts and requirements to report destinations via communication sorcery—not overly restrictive terms.
'Not a bad deal for me either. Zhuge Hye-mi's abilities will definitely aid our journey through the martial world. Plus, watching her refined sorcery up close is helpful in itself.'
Her covert escorts, specialists in stealth operations, didn't hinder things much.
In a world still rife with dangers, such precautions for her safety were far from unwelcome.
The one thing he hadn't anticipated, however...
"Whew~ Even in this remote backwater, hot water for bathing. Sorcery really is amazing! I wish I could learn it too."
"Well, my ability to use this sorcery stems from innate factors, so..."
"Pfft—obviously joking, sis! Even if you taught me, I couldn't handle anything that brain-taxing. I'll just stick close to my talented big sis! Hehe!"
...was ending up with Nangong So-ran in tow as well.
On their way to Mount Mosan Sect in Jiangsu Province, their first destination, they made a courtesy visit to House Nangong in Anhui Province midway through.
Somehow, Nangong So-ran hit it off instantly with Zhuge Hye-mi, whom she'd just met, calling her "sis" right away.
With the Sword Saint—one of House Nangong's elders and Ha Seung-hoon's comrade from the final war—backing her, she naturally joined the group.
Ha Seung-hoon couldn't bring himself to refuse his wartime ally's request.
'Eh... whatever. One or two more makes no difference.'
If anything, traveling with heirs of prestigious clans would only amplify his influence—not a bad thing at all.
It would also make borrowing their clans' aid easier if needed.
And so began the chivalrous journey of three people, plus a handful of covert escorts dispatched by their clans.
Not much time had passed since the decisive battle with the Demonic Cult, but as they traversed the continent, they encountered and resolved numerous incidents.
They exterminated bandits still brazenly operating, punished ruffians wreaking havoc oblivious to the world's changes, hunted down Demonic Cult remnants running amok without oversight, and dealt with corrupt officials exploiting the populace.
They even dug new wells for drought-stricken villages and slew dangerous beasts—small acts of kindness amid their main goal: rooting out those ceaselessly fueling the chaos.
"Oh! Thank you so much, great heroes!"
"P-Please... spare me! I'll live right from now on!"
"Aigoo~ My dear Mal-sook, now you can finally rest in peace..."
Daily rising fame and diverse combat experience came naturally in the process.
They'd even slain an Aura Realm expert once, underscoring the journey's intensity.
And at some point, Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero Ha Seung-hoon...
...realized one undeniable fact.
'...Why? Why have I stopped growing?'
His growth had stagnated.
He was steadily consuming Growth Potions, so skill proficiencies continued rising, but the transcendent wall remained nowhere in sight.
He needed at least a glimpse to ponder how to overcome it...
'My power isn't lacking. At my level, I'm top-tier even among Aura Realm experts. So why?'
His Empty Spirit Body was a legendary physique that freely manipulated natural qi, dissolving limits on internal energy and flesh alike.
His Heavenly Dragon Divine Art, blessed by the Dragon God, rivaled—no, perhaps surpassed—the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, an ultimate supreme technique.
And All Streams Return to the Sea, Versatile, and Mimicry were premier auxiliary skills for mastering martial arts!
'Ah, I see.'
With experience pushing multiple avatars beyond transcendence, he quickly pinpointed the issue.
Transcendence through martial mysteries... reaching the Transcendent Realm could no longer be achieved by his prior methods.
'...Come to think of it, none of my avatars broke through solely on their own power.'
Hans ascended to the third Immortal King by completing the Heart of the Immortal King.
The Immortal King, symbol of world-ending doom that once drowned half the continent in death.
Inheriting such a being's power and karma alone sufficed for transcendence.
Heinz 2nd, inheriting a vampire bloodline's roots, and Hela, devouring the vacant Demon King's karma, followed suit.
Usurping what they weren't entitled to could've shattered their minds, but the cheat skill Avatar—linked with Mind Hub and Soul Firewall—made the impossible possible.
'Heinrich and Harris, aided by the Main God and World Tree, had fewer side effects.'
Still, external aid all the same.
Without their unique conditions as a faith-empowered priest and a high elf World Tree shaman, it would've been impossible.
'Strictly speaking, only Harley transcended through his own power?'
Whether devouring countless beings' potentials to force a breakthrough counted as "self-made" was debatable.
Harley's case—purely bodily traits overcoming limits—was an anomaly regardless.
'But this time is different. To reach the Transcendent Realm, I must hone my martial prowess purely through insight, no shortcuts.'
He let out a soft sigh.
No one among the current Transcendent Realm experts lacked the "genius" label.
Even Heavenly Demon, rapidly empowered as an Awakener, was born with the special talent Heavenly Slaughter Star.
His unique skill was merely that talent skill-ified with added abilities; even unawakened, he'd have been a renowned martial artist on Earth.
Though more likely a psychopathic serial killer caught and slain by Awakeners.
'Insight... I need insight. Not techniques learned from imported manuals and knowledge, but something infused with my own philosophy and beliefs...'
Was this the fate of a martial artist?
Thanks to Hugo's mature, tolerant nature, he always wore a magnanimous smile outwardly.
Yet as time passed, an inner thirst for power welled up relentlessly.
'Is this how martial artists fall to demonic arts? ...No, demonic arts only accelerate early progress. At my level, they'd be poison.'
Then,
The clue about the "Black Dragon Society" unearthed on Earth became a ray of light piercing his stagnation.
On Chinese soil, teeming with martial world returnees.
The oldest, most secretive group of elite martial cultivators filtered from the masses.
Beings bound to hit growth limits in Earth's environment, who had distilled secrets from countless dimensions into something profound.
The anticipation made his heart race.
"Young Master?"
"Brother?"
Startled by the voices beside him, he snapped his head up.
His two travel companions gazed at him with odd expressions.
"Did you call? Something wrong?"
"No, it's just... um..."
"Not an issue, more like... your expression, brother..."
"My expression?"
He touched his face, tilting his head.
His fingers felt the usual gentle smile.
Guessing the situation intuitively, he brushed it off casually.
"Ah! I was lost in thought and suddenly had a great idea. Must've smiled without realizing."
Evidently spot-on, as they nodded readily.
Made sense—who wouldn't find a sudden grin weird here?
"Anyway, looks like we're done. Time to move."
"Yeah, finally in Mount Mosan Sect territory. We'd have arrived ages ago without detours."
"Can't be helped, sis. We couldn't ignore intel on Demonic Cult remnant hideouts."
As the trio chatted and departed, terrified gazes trailed them.
But only briefly.
Those in ragged clothes cautiously crept into the abandoned manor.
Smashed plaques on the ground, collapsed halls, and crippled martial artists writhing—dantian ruptured, bodies mangled.
Once ruthless black path criminals who ruled the area through blood and fear.
"Ugh... s-spare... mercy..."
"Scram, you beggars! How dare you... Gahk!"
And as expected,
Those bearing grudges showed no mercy.
Screams and the stench of blood echoed from the ruined manor for a time.
Just like everywhere else before.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Heinz 2nd had invested heavily to firmly ensnare the Black Dragon Lord.
Not only interrogating Black Shadow for intel analysis but also secretly installing alarm barriers and blood gates at the main base and nearby safehouses.
Ready to strike wherever, whenever he appeared.
'Didn't see this coming...'
Thus, he couldn't help feeling awkward at the current situation.
He stared at the old man striding boldly through the main gate, as if mocking all his preparations.
The same appearance from various sources: an elderly Chinese martial artist in classic black wushu robes.
He was the Black Dragon Society's leader—the Black Dragon Lord.
"Kept you waiting, I see. I hurried as best I could, but sneaking around has its delays. Forgive the tardiness."
Even knowing the lay of the land, no tension showed in his demeanor.
As if he'd accepted whatever fate.
'Or maybe he's certain I won't harm him.'
Narrowing his eyes, Heinz scrutinized him closely.
As rumored, a Transcendent Realm expert—and upper echelon at that.
"...Impressive, just as I heard."
"Oh? Care to share what tales you've heard?"
The Black Dragon Lord replied to the quiet admiration with intrigue.
Heinz pressed on undeterred.
"The sole transcendent born on Earth, right?"
"Oho!"
The one and only transcendent from the mystery-barren Earth.
Not that he'd purely achieved it on Earth, of course.
A martial world returnee from the early cataclysm, he'd returned at the Aura Realm's cusp.
Yet he persisted, attempting the impossible—and succeeded spectacularly.
'At the cost of his lifespan and youth.'
Inevitable.
Even with spirit elixirs, transcendence demanded colossal energy.
In qi-less Earth, burning innate essence—life force itself—in place of internal energy was no surprise.
"Heh, knowing that much means you're well-informed overall."
Despite the critical info leak, he seemed unperturbed.
Grinning as if amused, eyes fixed on Heinz.
"That's a secret I haven't shared with anyone... Well, you can know."
"Hm?"
"Heh heh heh, you'll be shocked. Top-secret stuff!"
He even volunteered more, bubbling like a child with a secret.
"Former East Asia Branch Chief of the Reverse Heaven Society."
Heinz froze.
The Black Dragon Lord gazed at him with a smiling face and continued.
"I was the predecessor to the Law Ruler—the Reverse Heaven Child."