Chapter 407
Chapter 407
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 107
>Chapter Title: Heavenly Demon (3)
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It was a glimpse of some future fragment seen through the energy left behind in the Sacred Fire Command.
It might have been just a moment from one of countless branching paths that may or may not come to pass.
Yet among all those potential moments, there was one scene that delivered a fresh shock uniquely to him.
Its intensity drove him to recreate something that bordered on the impossible.
-Papapapapak!
Countless swords floated into the air.
The eyes of the Assembly members staring up at the sight shook as if struck by an earthquake.
Even the subordinates under Mok Kyung-un—who could be called allies—were no exception.
‘H-How can he control so many swords?’
‘Can he really manipulate all these swords?’
Simply levitating objects in the air through mid-air grasp was possible for even peak experts.
And for those at the Fire Realm, their deeper understanding of qi allowed them to handle it with greater finesse.
Then there was the sword realm that peerless masters vaguely comprehended.
They called it Sword Control Technique or Qi Sword Control.
Upon reaching the Mysterious Realm—the supreme pinnacle in handling qi beyond any wall—one could wield the sword with true qi as effortlessly as reining in a horse.
As their realm advanced, masters expanded their breadth of thought through enlightenment.
The precision in handling qi varied with that mental scope, but techniques as intricate as Qi Sword Control—replicating even sword tips—were inherently limited in number.
‘!?’
The Assembly Leader, who had been watching the situation like a bystander, felt his pupils tremble.
At a glance, the swords hovering in the air numbered just over a hundred.
He could levitate that many himself.
But finely controlling them? Twelve swords would be his limit at best.
Beyond that, the drain on internal energy and mental strength became unbearable.
‘...Is this a show of force to crush our spirit? Or can he truly do it?’
Either way, it would consume an enormous amount of mental energy.
Did he have the reserves to back it up?
Or was it possible only because of the lingering will of a wraith that had endured a century?
-Chachachachachak!
Even as the Assembly Leader marveled, Mok Kyung-un pointed his sword seal toward the Assembly members aligned with Na Yul-ryang, who had been facing off against it.
At that,
-Chachachachachachachak!
The countless floating swords immediately targeted them.
But it didn’t end there.
Mok Kyung-un’s pupils turned gold, just as they had when Na Yul-ryang unsealed his Demon Eye, and the swords were soon cloaked in black sword gang.
-Wooooong!
‘!!!!!!’
The Assembly members under Na Yul-ryang couldn’t contain their shock at the sight.
“Q-Qi Sword Gang?”
“A m-monster... Can you really do this with so many swords?”
“...Impossible.”
“W-What kind of internal energy is limitless?”
Even in plain Qi Sword Control state, the sheer momentum was overwhelming, but the moment they saw the swords dyed in that ferociously wicked black sword gang, they were seized by primal chills and terror, setting aside all enmity.
Was this the true power of the Seven Heavens’ Heavenly Demon?
‘What the hell is that?’
Great Young Master Na Yul-ryang was stunned not just by the sky overrun with Qi Sword Gang—beyond mere Qi Sword Control—but by Mok Kyung-un’s golden pupils shining through the void beyond.
It was unmistakably identical to when he had unsealed his own Demon Eye.
‘...No way.’
He couldn’t believe it.
That bastard had devoured his eye.
And not only that—he had absorbed the power contained within it?
He hadn’t received the eye through sorcery like he had.
A voice from Elder Jeon’s envoy, Yul Myeong, flashed through Na Yul-ryang’s mind.
[Hahaha. Don’t compare it to trifles like that. This is the Demon Eye of the Lion Roar King—one of the Six Demons, a spirit beast... nay, something endlessly close to a divine beast.]
[Lion Roar King? You mean Yi Mae-mang-ryang?]
[Yes.]
[So in conclusion, it’s just from a relatively strong one among the Yi Mae-mang-ryang?]
[You’ve gained incredible fortune, yet your assessment is disappointingly modest.]
[It’s still just an eye. Of course, it’ll eliminate blind spots thanks to this. I’m grateful for that.]
[It’s not just blind spots. Your previous eyes had many strengths, but the caliber of what you now possess is entirely different.]
[Different caliber?]
[It’s freshly transplanted, so it’ll be hard to wield properly at first, but once you fully absorb and assimilate its power soon enough, I can say one thing for certain.]
[What’s that?]
[You’ll be able to contend even with Master Assembly Leader in his prime—not bedridden by illness.]
‘Contend with Master in his prime?’
Though his master was ill, he was one of the six peaks of the Central Plains.
Could the eye of a Yi Mae-mang-ryang—different from a human—really make that possible?
Na Yul-ryang acknowledged the transplanted eye’s power surpassed his previous one, but he’d dismissed the claim as mere posturing to rack up favors in Elder Jeon.
Yet that was the Demon Eye’s power?
‘Impossible...’
Someone watched from afar.
It was Grand Sorcerer Myeong-ryul.
Myeong-ryul inwardly recoiled in shock as Mok Kyung-un’s eyes took on a semblance to the Lion Roar King’s Demon Eye.
No matter that he’d learned barrier arts—how could a mere human devour a Yi Mae-mang-ryang’s eye and assimilate its power?
Without transplanting it via sorcery or refining it into a ritual tool, proper use was impossible.
Was that man truly human?
At that moment, Mok Kyung-un—hovering in the air—spoke.
“Someone once called this Heavenly Sky Flash, I think. Ah. Though it doesn’t seem all that bright.”
The sword gangs filling the sky, dyed black.
They were darkness incarnate.
“......”
“Enough with the merciful words. This is the last. Kneel. Those who don’t submit die.”
His oppressive voice echoed in all directions.
The area fell into dead silence at Mok Kyung-un’s final warning.
The instant those things descended upon them, it would be no different from unleashing hell.
Pale-faced, they had lost all will to fight against Mok Kyung-un’s absolute power, glancing around nervously.
Terrifying as it was, no one wanted to be the first to kneel and look weak.
Yet someone mustered the courage.
-Thud!
It was a Battalion Leader-level warrior.
“Battalion Leader Yun Myeong!”
“No, how can you!”
Nearby Battalion Leaders quietly scolded him.
But his resolve didn’t waver.
Having spent over forty years in the Assembly and weathered countless battlefields, even he had never witnessed such a sight.
Even the Six Heavens’ own Heaven-Earth Assembly Leader had never displayed such chilling, overwhelming might.
“Sorry. I... I just can’t.”
“Damn it, Battalion Leader Yun Myeong!”
That was the spark.
-Thud! Thud!
Na Yul-ryang’s hesitant Assembly members began kneeling here and there.
Witnessing it, the eyes of Mok Kyung-un’s subordinates and executives trembled with swelling pride.
Even they inwardly felt relief that this overwhelming force was their lord and ally.
Seeing members kneel so visibly filled them with more than pride in their lord—it lifted their own spirits.
-Thud! Thud!
The kneeling accelerated, the sounds multiplying.
Nearly thirty percent of the opposing forces had knelt, while those around them scolded and tried to stop them in vain, growing flustered.
Then someone stepped forward and bellowed.
“Gal!”
The Lion’s Roar spread, strong enough to rattle eardrums, making weaker experts clutch their ears as they turned toward the origin.
It was Branch Head Yang Jeong of the Earth Vein Branch, igniting his sword gang as he strode toward Mok Kyung-un.
“All Assembly members, steel yourselves and snap out of it! We are warriors of the Great Heaven-Earth Assembly! How can we so easily yield to traitors, no matter how strong the foe? On the battlefield, strong or weak, all can die. It’s a matter of resolve. Rally your battle spirit, everyone. I’ll lead from the front!”
A general or leader’s role wasn’t solely about strength.
They guided the masses and ignited their morale and will to fight.
An army brimming with fervor and high spirits could work miracles, defeating vast hosts with few numbers.
Branch Head Yang Jeong—rich in recent battlefield experience—knew this and sought to rally them against submission.
By stepping up, he also aimed to show the Assembly Leader and all that he was the prime successor candidate.
His cry unexpectedly bore fruit.
“Branch Head Yang Jeong is right! Snap out of it, everyone!”
“Follow Branch Head Yang Jeong to defend the Heaven-Earth Assembly!”
“Waaaaah!!!!”
The Assembly members roared, reigniting their will.
Mok Kyung-un regarded them with impassive eyes.
“Moths to a flame, truly.”
“We’ll see who lasts longer or shorter!”
With that, Earth Vein Branch Head Yang Jeong launched his form toward Mok Kyung-un.
Just before he stepped forth, a voice had whispered in his ear.
It was Hang Yeo-ryang, one of the Three Valley Leaders—Leader of Blue Sound Valley.
-Branch Head.
‘Hm?’
-It’s Blue Sound Valley Leader Hang Yeo-ryang. I’m using a minor technique to speak only to your ears, so don’t show it.
‘......’
-Great Young Master Na Yul-ryang is injured, so you’re the only one here who can face that bastard. That’s why I’m telling you.
‘......’
-As I see it, no matter how vast one’s mental scope grows with realm, human mental strength has limits. Precisely controlling that many Qi Sword Gangs is impossible.
Sound reasoning.
Yet even imprecise barrages into this dense cluster would cause incalculable casualties.
As if reading his thoughts, Blue Sound Valley Leader Hang Yeo-ryang sent a transmission.
-Even so, if those drop, the damage will be immense. We must block them first.
‘How?’
What method could stop this?
She replied.
-I have a sonic art secret technique. Unsure if it’ll faze a grandmaster at the Mysterious Realm, but it can at least disrupt their focus briefly.
‘Ah?’
-In that gap, Branch Head—you attack him.
Earth Vein Branch Head Yang Jeong glanced at her, his expression showing slight incomprehension.
She was Na Yul-ryang’s subordinate.
For her to hand him this chance instead of her own lord?
If it worked, he’d become a hero backed by many Assembly members.
-I don’t care if it’s Great Young Master Na Yul-ryang or you on top. As long as it’s not a righteous factioner or anyone tied to the Enlightened King. Heh heh heh.
So that was it.
That woman was truly inscrutable.
But now wasn’t the time to suspect ulterior motives—the crisis was real.
Whatever the reason, with the Assembly Leader yet to act, someone had to turn the tide.
‘And that’s me!’
-Pat!
Yang Jeong, gathering energy to unleash his technique, prepared.
In sync, Blue Sound Valley Leader Hang Yeo-ryang cupped her hands, leaving a gap between, swelled her abdomen, and unleashed,
“Kyaaaaaahhhhhhh!”
Her sonic secret technique.
‘!?’
Her sudden cry startled those nearby, but fortunately, this technique focused qi-laden sound waves solely on a target, rupturing organs and causing nine-orifice blood spray—a dire method.
Consuming nearly half one’s internal energy with long preparation, it was hard mid-battle but feasible now.
Plugging ears wouldn’t block it.
Even sealing all bodily orifices with qi, the slightest entry spread like poison, inflicting agony.
Mental disruption from pain created openings, naturally breaking Qi Sword Gang maintenance—
-Puk!
That instant.
“Gurk!”
Blue Sound Valley Leader Hang Yeo-ryang’s eyes widened as if tearing.
Something pierced her swollen abdomen.
Nearly invisible to the naked eye, transparent—it was undoubtedly a sword.
‘N-No way... Formless...’
-Poot!
Pierced before unleashing, razor-sharp sword intent spread through her body, and she spewed blood surging to her throat.
In that same split second, Yang Jeong—about to unleash his Earth Vein Sword Style secret technique—sensed something wrong.
Per her words, Mok Kyung-un should have been disrupted by the sonic art at least briefly, yet nothing.
Instead,
-Shuk!
He pointed his sword seal downward, and
-Chwachachachachachachachachachachachachachachwa!
Black light streaks pelted toward Na Yul-ryang’s Assembly members like a downpour.
‘!!!!!!’
It struck even Yang Jeong hurtling toward Mok Kyung-un.
The Bullet Sword Gangs’ speed was near instantaneous, leaving no room to dodge or defend.
-Chaechachachachang!
“Keheok!”
The Earth Vein Sword Style secret technique Earth Dragon Soars to Heaven held mountain-shattering might, but the piercing Bullet Sword Gangs sapped his pulse.
He crashed to the ground.
-Kwakwakwakwang!
It didn’t end there.
The descending black light streaks ravaged everywhere, erupting screams of pandemonium.
-Chwachachachachachachachwa!
-Kwakwakwakwakwang!
“Kwaaak!”
“Guk!”
Some executives dismissed it as mere intimidation, but it was no bluff.
‘M-Monster...’
‘This isn’t human.’
All non-kneeling Assembly members faced the cunningly aimed Bullet Sword Gangs, left aghast.
-Uduk! Uduk!
Veins bulged across Mok Kyung-un’s forehead and eye sockets, his golden pupils vibrating intensely in that instant, tracking countless foes.
It bordered on impossible calculation and spatial awareness, even for human thought at enlightenment’s peak.
[Chapter 107: Heavenly Demon (3)] End
ⓒ Han Jung-wol-ya