Chapter 65
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Fist Demon's Challenge
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Seol Hwa-un looked down at his right hand. A pure white flame enveloped it completely.
“…….”
Even he couldn’t help it. The fist technique that paired best with the Heaven-Earth Shadowless Dance was the Blazing Flower Fist.
“Magnificent! So that’s the legendary Blazing Flower Fist.”
Despite taking a proper hit, the Fist Demon appeared relatively unscathed.
‘It felt like striking a thick rubber sheet.’
It was clear the Fist Demon had profound mastery over outer sect energy arts.
“If my guess is right, that exquisite footwork you showed was the Heaven-Earth Shadowless Dance, wasn’t it? Impressive. I didn’t expect you to have mastered that as well.”
“…….”
Seol Hwa-un felt a bit deflated. He had tried so hard not to reveal it, but in the end, he had exposed the Heavenly Collapse Fist Emperor’s signature art.
His face hardened coldly.
‘In that case…….’
Boom!
A heavy aura spread out in all directions. The Fist Demon’s expression stiffened slightly.
‘This much?’
“Prepare yourself.”
Seol Hwa-un thrust out his fist, gathered with pure white energy.
Baaang!
‘Fist Cannon One Split!’
A massive burst of energy shot forth like lightning. The Fist Demon’s eyes widened.
‘This!’
Boom!
The Fist Demon quickly raised his left arm to block with his forearm. But a chilling cold seeped through his arm.
Bang!
He swiftly circulated his inner energy to dispel the cold.
‘Among the Ice Palace’s fist techniques, one this powerful……!’
Whoosh!
Before he could finish his thought, Seol Hwa-un, who had closed in, unleashed three consecutive strikes. It was the Three Layers Pressure Fist of the Ice River Nine Splits Divine Fist.
“Hup!”
The Fist Demon swung his arms wide.
Kwa-kwa-boom!!
He neutralized not only the fist strikes but also the unique pressure of the Three Layers Pressure Fist in a single motion.
But as if he had anticipated it, Seol Hwa-un immediately followed with the third form of the Ice River Nine Splits Divine Fist, Full Snow Fist Wave.
Roooar!
The intense energy of the Ice White Divine Art surged toward the Fist Demon.
‘Excellent!’
The Fist Demon thrust both fists forward.
Pang!
Roooar!!
His two fists created a massive vortex of qi. It was the ultimate technique of the Great Vajra Divine Fist, Double Fist Vortex.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa!
The Double Fist Vortex obliterated the Full Snow Fist Wave’s energy and charged toward Seol Hwa-un.
“…….”
Whoosh!
Yellow flames once again rose from Seol Hwa-un’s fist.
‘Blazing Flower Full Sea!’
The Blazing Flower Fist’s ultimate technique unfolded, spewing forth a massive blaze.
Fwoooosh!
The Ten Thousand Fist Flame Wind’s flames neutralized the Double Fist Vortex and bore down on the Fist Demon.
He accurately identified Seol Hwa-un’s technique once more.
“Blazing Flower Full Sea!”
The Fist Demon punched toward the flames. Then he swung his arm wide.
Whoo-whoo-whoo-whoo!
Fwoooosh!
The Ten Thousand Fist Flame Wind’s flames began to trail along his arm, soon gathering all the fire there.
“……!”
Seol Hwa-un was genuinely startled by the sight.
‘He blocked Blazing Flower Full Sea like that?!’
The Fist Demon shouted with a triumphant expression.
“This is the Reverse Flame Rebound Fist!”
The Fist Demon extended his flame-wreathed arm forward. The fire converged at his fingertips and shot out like a cannonball.
Taaang!
“……!”
The sphere’s speed was incredible, and with the Fist Demon’s inner energy infused into the flames, it was immensely threatening.
Seol Hwa-un quickly stepped back and unleashed a pure white fist strike. It was the fourth form of the Ice River Nine Splits Divine Fist, Heaven-Splitting True Fist.
Kwaaaaang!
Rumble-rumble!
An enormous explosion shook the ground.
As expected, the Heaven-Splitting True Fist’s power perfectly dissipated the Rebound Fist’s sphere.
The Fist Demon didn’t hide his admiration.
“An outstanding fist technique. To withstand the Rebound Fist like that.”
“……Did the Fist Tyrant Sect have a fist technique like this?”
“Hahaha, indeed. Especially the Reverse Flame technique you just saw—it was specially devised by the Fist Tyrant to counter the Heavenly Collapse Fist Emperor’s arts.”
“……!”
The Fist Demon’s eyes gleamed intensely.
“To surpass the Supreme Fist of the World and become the Supreme Fist of Past and Present, one must overcome the Heavenly Collapse Fist Emperor, no?”
Seol Hwa-un’s eyes changed.
‘Old Poison Act, so that’s how it is. Your goal was ultimately to surpass me.’
As a martial artist, his fighting spirit was worthy of respect.
‘I raised a tiger cub.’
He recalled the days they had discussed fist techniques, sharing insights freely.
It could feel like betrayal, but Seol Hwa-un felt pleased instead.
‘It’s a shame, Old Poison Act. That I never met the you of your later years.’
The last Fist Tyrant he had seen was around the Fist Demon’s level or slightly below.
From records of his long life, he might have reached a level comparable to Seol Hwa-un’s by the end.
Seol Hwa-un stared at the Fist Demon with intense eyes.
‘Are you a man worthy to replace Old Poison Act?’
His battle intent boiled over naturally. Seol Hwa-un’s aura shifted again.
“……!”
The Fist Demon’s eyes widened slightly.
‘He still has reserves? Truly astonishing. To think this is merely a late-stage prodigy’s level. Who would believe it?’
Even the top demonic experts like the Four Demon Lords wouldn’t believe it without seeing it themselves.
The Four Demonic Envoys and Four Demon Lords together were called the Four Demons and Four Lords, and one of the Four Demonic Envoys was the Fist Demon.
‘Ah, with the Blood Yin Lord dead, it’s the Three Demons and Four Lords now?’
Though grouped together, the gap between the Blood Yin Lord and the Fist Demon was vast. One could tell just from how Seol Hwa-un was struggling now.
As Seol Hwa-un moved to charge again, the Fist Demon raised his palm.
“Wait!”
“……?”
Seol Hwa-un paused, and the Fist Demon crossed his arms before continuing.
“Fighting you to the death like this would be fine, but it feels a bit unsatisfying.”
“What are you getting at?”
“Your fists aren’t fully perfected yet, are they?”
“And if they’re not?”
“The reason I pressed you so relentlessly about mastering the Heavenly Collapse Fist Emperor’s arts wasn’t because I coveted them. Quite the opposite.”
The Fist Demon’s eyes burned fiercely.
“It’s to prove that the Fist Tyrant Sect’s fists surpass the Heavenly Collapse Fist Emperor’s.”
“……!”
For a moment, the Fist Demon and the Fist Tyrant overlapped in Seol Hwa-un’s eyes.
‘I see, Poison Act. Your will endures even after two hundred years.’
“You’re doing this to become the Supreme Fist of Past and Present too?”
“Isn’t that obvious? As lord of the Fist Tyrant Sect, it’s only natural.”
The Fist Demon shook his head.
“Our talk veered off, but what I mean is this: You’re not complete yet. Even if I win like this, it’ll leave a bitter taste.”
“You’re saying now’s not the time?”
“Exactly. How about…… three years?”
“Three years?”
“At your age, reaching this level already marks you as a genius among geniuses. In that time, you could perfect the Heavenly Collapse Fist Emperor’s arts. It’s a bit forced, but I lack the patience to wait longer.”
The Fist Demon smiled.
“I’ll be satisfied today with confirming you as the Heavenly Collapse Fist Emperor’s successor. Train hard. I’ll come find you in three years.”
Without waiting for Seol Hwa-un’s reply, he leaped away and vanished.
“…….”
Seol Hwa-un didn’t bother pursuing him.
‘Fist Demon, you’re certainly strong.’
Of course, Seol Hwa-un still had signature arts he hadn’t revealed.
The final form of the Ice River Nine Splits Divine Fist, Nine Splits Subdue the World, the Thunderbolt Three Fists, and other ultimate techniques of the Blazing Flower Fist.
Any one of them was a world-shaking masterpiece. With those, he could stand a good chance against the Fist Demon.
Add the Heaven-Earth Shadowless Dance, and even the Fist Demon couldn’t guarantee victory.
‘But since I don’t know what tricks he’s hiding, it’s too early to discuss win or loss. And…….’
Seol Hwa-un’s eyes gleamed clearly for the first time in a while.
‘Defeating that Fist Demon like this wouldn’t satisfy me. I’ll crush him with overwhelming fist strikes.’
A faint smile touched his lips.
‘I’ll make you regret giving me three years, Fist Demon.’
Seol Hwa-un stared long in the direction the Fist Demon had vanished before turning away.
* * *
Eyebrow Mountain Forest.
A dense woodland on the path from Eyebrow Mountain toward the holy city.
Step, step.
Seol Hwa-un entered the Eyebrow Mountain Forest. He had passed through it once on the way to Eyebrow Mountain.
Well past midnight, though the moon shone brightly, the forest was pitch-black under the massive trees. But it posed no issue.
Seol Hwa-un’s exceptional eyesight pierced the darkness.
“…….”
Lost in thought, he moved quickly through the woods. Compared to using lightness skill on the way to Eyebrow Mountain, his pace was extremely slow.
‘It’s been a while since I walked alone.’
Since entering the Central Plains, Seol Hwa-un had never once moved leisurely on his own.
So he was taking it slow to sort his thoughts.
How much time passed?
About halfway through the Eyebrow Mountain Forest, Seol Hwa-un sensed something odd.
“…….”
He stopped and slowly turned his head.
‘Hmm.’
The surroundings were silent. Not even the chirp of crickets could be heard.
‘No insect sounds?’
Seol Hwa-un’s eyes sharpened.
‘Someone’s here.’
No presence was immediately felt, but Seol Hwa-un was certain someone was hiding nearby.
Sure enough.
“Tch! Sharp senses.”
With a grumble, a man emerged from the front.
A bearded middle-aged man in black robes.
“Who are you?”
“Introductions first. Fine, my name is Go Woo-gyeon.”
“Go Woo-gyeon?”
Seol Hwa-un tilted his head. It was a name he’d never heard.
As if expecting that, he continued.
“My name isn’t famous, so you wouldn’t know. How about this? War Ghost Brigade Leader of the Eighteen War Ghosts, Go Woo-gyeon.”
Seol Hwa-un’s eyebrow twitched.
“The Eighteen War Ghosts…… Bright King Sect?”
Just as Shaolin had its Eighteen Arhats, the Bright King Sect was renowned for its Eighteen War Ghosts.
“Correct. I came especially on the sect leader’s orders to find you.”
Seol Hwa-un frowned unwittingly.
‘This isn’t good. They moved faster than expected.’
He hadn’t anticipated they would act in Sacheon Province, where righteous faction influence was strong.
Seol Hwa-un slowly circulated his inner energy as he spoke.
“If you’re truly one of the Eighteen War Ghosts, you wouldn’t come alone.”
A sinister smile curled on the War Ghost Brigade Leader’s lips.
“Correct.”
Pa-pa-pa-pat!
In that instant, four shadows burst from the darkness, charging toward Seol Hwa-un.