Chapter 443
Chapter 443
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 443
Chapter Title: Chapter 443
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 443
Chapter Title: Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero (1)
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In the serene heart of an Eastern-style chamber.
Ha Seung-hoon—known here as Hugo—breathed evenly, eyes gently closed, lost deep in meditation.
A whirlwind of concepts from countless martial disciplines churned through his mind, endlessly breaking down and rebuilding the techniques he had honed over time.
'This is incredible.'
Once the process had settled into some semblance of order,
he steadied his breath and let out an involuntary sigh of awe.
'In a way, this is the perfect remedy for where I stand right now.'
He roughly gathered the swirling mass of knowledge and slowly opened his eyes.
He yearned to sort it all out and claim it as his own immediately, but the sheer volume of martial lore echoing in his mind made that impossible.
Beyond that, his personal insights into his own arts were confined to what "Ha Seung-hoon" knew on the surface, while this was so profoundly intricate that days of frantic effort wouldn't even scratch it.
"Black Dragon Secret Manual..."
It was the token of loyalty Heinz 2nd had pried... no, received as a gift from the Black Dragon Lord, master of the Black Dragon Society.
A manual audacious enough to claim it encapsulated the essence of all martial arts across dimensions.
Of course, "manual" was a loose term—it held no bookish form.
No physical shape at all, in fact.
It was simply the full transfer of data via the skill that let the Black Dragon Lord record and catalog every technique he knew.
'That man's no ordinary soul. Then again, racking up Earthly feats and snagging privileges says it all.'
His title was even 「Reverse Heaven One」.
A defier of heaven's will—hardly a moniker for casual approach.
'Former head of the Honcheon Society's branch, teeming with hidden powerhouses. No way the leader slots mediocrity into a key spot like that. Early on, devouring China was priority one, making that role elite-tier.'
This "Black Dragon Secret Manual" was essentially the Lord's lifelong insights, penned from his Earth return and refined ceaselessly for over two decades.
Proof he never slacked on martial research—even after claiming the 「Reverse Heaven One」 privilege through dogged pursuit, escaping the Honcheon Society, and cloaking his existence utterly.
'Not mere notes on a few dimensions' arts. It's a research log—from his mindset and labors to reach the Transcendent Realm, to what he deemed vital for the Mythic Realm beyond. Makes you wonder how he amassed so much while dodging the Society.'
He'd heard the gist.
How the Lord bartered knowledge with returnees from myriad martial realms.
Any whiff of novelty, and he'd pounce—level be damned.
Means? None off-limits.
He'd yield vast wealth, perilous quests, even chunks of their arts libraries; with stubborn holdouts, force was fair game.
'Steadily poaching talent for the Black Dragon Society that way. And for a growth-hungry soul like him, lusting after fresh lore was inevitable.'
No genius leaps millennia of history solo.
Martial arts: the arcane apex, forged across ages by genius legions.
He'd merely orchestrated and tailored that radiant heritage for his gain—far from forging anew from void.
'Still, that alone crowns him grandmaster material.'
Naturally, his findings weren't casual fare.
Post-basics, all hinged on the heaven-defying 「Reverse Heaven One」 existence.
Intricately knotted principles of clashing natures—any mundane martialist aping it blind courts qi deviation and ruin.
'Not if it's me.'
A soft chuckle escaped as he rose slowly.
Meridians throbbed dully across his frame, but he brushed it off.
The Lord wielded heaven-bucking 「Reverse Heaven One」.
He bore the 「Savior」, scorning this dimension's every fetter.
Wooong—
His body's rioting qi settled into calm.
With it, errant martial principles alien to this Kanghwan Realm's logic took slow root within him.
'Still raw and wanting...'
Path and method sighted, time alone remained the hurdle.
Deep breath drawn, he flung open the door and strode forth.
'Wall looms; surmounting is all.'
Dazzling sun stabbed his lids.
Dawn meditation had stretched—the sun now reigned midday, bathing the world in brilliance.
No more the eternal gloom; sky stretched flawless, crystalline blue.
"Ah! Brother! You're out?"
Namgung Soran, crouched in the courtyard by the door, whipped her head around with a radiant grin.
Long dogtail grass stalk in hand, swaying it lazily.
In her brief lapse,
-Nyaang!
-Nyaak!
"Ah! Gotcha."
The pair huddled before her, fixated on the twitching tip, bolted lightning-fast and snagged it.
Purring triumphantly, they gnawed at it with wee jaws—like victors parading spoils.
Common kittens at a glance.
Yet no housecat's form is pure flame or shadow.
"Lady Namgung, I trust you've rested well?"
"Aw, not that again. Loosen up, brother—I'm younger."
"Hahaha, we'll ease into it. And Lady Zhuge...?"
"Sis dashed off earlier to quiz the Taoists. Bouncing with excitement."
"Ah, makes sense. This is sorcery's twin pinnacle, rival to the Zhuge house."
She flicked the mangled stalk aside, fetched fresh, and resumed the sway.
The yokai kittens sprang to hunter crouch.
Yokai here outnumbered those felines, of course.
"Man, this place... 'otherworld' doesn't cut it. Fairy tale falls short."
Namgung Soran gawked, tongue lolling.
Beyond guest quarters, yokai thronged unbound.
Beast heads on humanoid torsos; formless oddities sans human trace—all yammering, carefree.
"It's their outward gate, buffer zone. Inexperienced ones learn the world gradual-like from here."
Mosan Sect, Jiangsu's eastern hold.
Journey's prime mark; yokai hub unveiled post-Demonic Cult finale.
"Sigh, yokai. Childhood fancies only—feels unreal."
"Mind yourself around them, as you know. One spat now risks our fragile peace."
"Duh! Just cautious—no sweat."
Trivial slips? Negligible.
Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero's war glory earned guest rites; their goodwill was genuine.
'Still, best curb clashes. My purpose here demands it.'
Ha Seung-hoon's odyssey bore twin aims.
Prime: Purge oblivious rabble-mongers, steady the realm.
Secondary: Sharpen self to pierce Transcendent barrier.
Mosan visit tied to the latter.
'Yokai arts glimpsed via Mok In-gwang once. Might unlock the wall.'
The Black Dragon windfall was boon, but options abound best.
Allows picks, blends—superior yields.
'Hero cred on Golden Crow Isle opens exchange spars...'
Alas, fate balked.
A shadow hurtled close, crumpling before him.
Woman, ashen, blood dribbling lips.
One of Zhuge Hyemi's covert guards.
"Gr-... Great hero! Disaster! The lady...!"
Precisely: He'd glossed that thorns pierce every side.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A frame dwarfing five meters: bipedal tiger bulk, sinuous tail, lipless fangs agleam with jutting boar tusks betwixt, goblinfire eyes ablaze.
"Lord Do-ol! That's Mosan Sect's guest! You'll... guk!"
"Grrrng—Silence! You dare nag me?!"
Do-ol, pressure vast as his savage guise, swatted the lone Taoist aside with ease, smug.
Clasping the rigid-gazed Zhuge Hyemi in one massive paw.
'Jackpot! A dragonkin here—and top-grade at that!'
Do-ol.
Ex-anti-Golden Crow great yokai; Demonic Cult rampage slew his "Four Evils" kin, forcing shelter 'neath Crow shade—a loser's refuge.
Even diminished, scant dared trifle with his might.
Crow's war wounds welcomed such force.
True to form, he'd shone versus Cult, carving niche.
Till peace dawned.
Post-finale, deadweight nuisance.
Evil-tipped bent ill-fit calm; he sparked strife nonstop.
Chaos masked flaws—clear uses, no pent-up ire.
Now? Pure liability.
Brass mulled sealing outright.
Do-ol's instincts, honed in turmoil, sniffed the shift.
'Think I'll fold easy?!'
Solo breakout? Dicey.
Transcendent-crushing power, sure—but mobs overwhelm.
Stumbling on Dragon God's apostle, world-redemption pillar? Golden chance.
'Dragonkin: world's salvation key. Burn such glory as offering...!'
No shock his logic mirrored Cultists'.
Slayer's glare reborn, he clutched Hyemi and vaulted.
Itched to gorge now, but wholeness craved rite—barebones it'd be.
"Gruk gruk—! Freedom's mine! Tail-chase eternally!"
Great yokai verve: bulk belied blistering forest dash.
Tracker-proof, phantom panther's throat-bite.
'Snag a dragon too, eh? Humiliations demand Crow-kind payback...'
Hubris's toll?
Shiiik—
Shadow inbound—a beat tardy.
'Ho? Sharp!'
Trifle, though.
Breath-lagged, he led by moves; chasmic edge.
Paaaat—!
That tick: Prepped golden blaze erupting from her-grasping fist.
Shadow-blent dark drake rent asunder; hand's void hit same-time.
"Eh?"
Do-ol gaped at bare palm.
Scoured surrounds slow.
Vanishment total.
Atomized.
"Insolence!"
Transcendent he: senses blanketed woods, snaring fleeing prize.
Tethered to the distractor's trace.
[Kraaaaaah—!]
Fury-roar birthed gale; quakes racked peaks.
Subterfuge botched.
Swift end ere Crow elites muster.
Intent sealed, boom—
Kwaaaang—!
Hypersonic behemoth pulverized the line to quarry.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 'Ugh, cooldown now of all times.'
Ha Seung-hoon, Hyemi cradled tight, fled on—scowling.
Safe Mosan Sect? Who foresaw this?
Halt. Pivot. Blade unsheathed.
Flight futile.
Kwaang!
[Die, vermin!]
Forest-path carver loomed rear-close, claw extended.
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