Chapter 76
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: Clash with the Sword Demon
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The Sword Demon's expression hardened coldly.
"What did you say? Fist Master?"
Though Seol Hwa-un was emanating a far more formidable aura than before, that wasn't what changed the Sword Demon's complexion.
"Outrageous. You dare jest with me?"
"I had no choice. How else would I get your attention?"
"Silence!"
The enraged Sword Demon unleashed a monstrous aura. Sharp formless sword qi battered Seol Hwa-un's entire body.
'Ugh! As expected, he was holding back until now.'
For reasons unknown, the killing intent the Sword Demon had exuded up until moments ago had been weaker than when he faced the elders.
Even his swordsmanship felt deliberately restrained to just the level Seol Hwa-un could handle.
In truth, the Sword Demon had been trying to overwhelm Seol Hwa-un solely with the superiority of the Overlord Sword itself, without relying on his own realm or inner power.
Thanks to that, Seol Hwa-un had managed to exchange blows with him without too much difficulty up to now.
But the situation had changed. The Sword Demon was truly furious now.
Seol Hwa-un quietly circulated the Ice White Divine Art.
Wooong.
The Ice Heaven Silent Forest Armor responded, forming a faint protective barrier. That alone was enough to block the formless sword qi to some extent.
'He might even be stronger than the Fist Demon. This could have been a mistake...'
Shuk!
In that instant, the Sword Demon's blade flew toward him. Its speed was on another level entirely.
"......!"
But Seol Hwa-un was on high alert and reacted swiftly. He immediately stepped back and swung his fist.
Creeeang!
He succeeded in deflecting the sword strike, but an immense force transmitted through his hand.
'Hmm! As expected, it's incomparably heavier than before.'
It felt like facing a heavy sword.
A heavy sword and a rigid sword might seem similar at a glance, but they were distinctly different.
If a heavy sword felt like a blunt hammer, a rigid sword was like an axe splitting logs—heavy yet sharp.
Yet a rigid sword at this level of mastery was no less imposing than a heavy sword.
"......You're indeed a Fist Master."
Just one exchange was enough for the Sword Demon to judge.
"You hid such fist techniques and wielded clumsy swordsmanship all this while."
Wooong!
Sword qi gradually thickened around his greatsword. It began to take on a defined shape.
'Sword force!'
It was as if he wielded a massive black sword.
"It's been ages since I last stretched properly."
The sword force cleaved through the air toward Seol Hwa-un.
Shuuuaaaak!
Seol Hwa-un's eyes flashed. A pure white light gleamed around his fist as fist force formed.
'Fist Cannon One Split!'
Kwaaaang!
Kuuung!!
Kwaaaang!!
The shockwaves from the clash of sword force and fist force completely shattered the duel arena. The onlookers from the Central Plains, who had been watching in stunned silence, retreated in alarm.
"The North Heaven Dragon is that strong? His swordsmanship is one thing, but his fist arts...!"
"What an incredible duel!"
Black sword force rained down indiscriminately on Seol Hwa-un.
Shushushushu!
Seol Hwa-un countered without yielding, unleashing the Ice River Nine Splits Divine Fist.
Kwakwakwakwang!
As expected, the Overlord Sword's power was tremendous. Combined with the Sword Demon's vast inner strength, Seol Hwa-un began to be pushed back bit by bit.
'A pity. If only I had 'that'......'
He had been planning to search for it once he entered the Martial Alliance anyway.
Kwang!
He blocked another sword force, but Seol Hwa-un's form slid back once more.
"Die."
'Overlord Chaotic Dance!'
The Sword Demon wildly swung his greatsword from his position. Simultaneously, dozens, hundreds of strands of black sword qi poured forth.
Shushushushushu!
The Overlord Sword consisted of seven ultimate techniques, divided into the first four and the last three.
Though the same sword art, the last three far surpassed the first four in power. Overlord Chaotic Dance was the first of those last three.
Seol Hwa-un couldn't help but be astonished.
'Incredible.'
But he had no leisure to watch idly.
Hwaak!
A yellow flame ignited around Seol Hwa-un's fist.
'Blazing Flower Full Bloom!'
At last, he unleashed the Blazing Flower Fist.
Hwaaaaak!
An enormous blaze erupted from his fist.
The watching Sword Demon's eyes widened.
'A North Sea Ice Palace expert wielding Yang force?!'
Kwakwakwakwang!!
The sword qi he unleashed began to be engulfed and destroyed one by one in the flames.
'But can that block my Overlord Chaotic Dance?'
The might of Overlord Chaotic Dance was truly formidable; some sword qi pierced through the flames and flew toward Seol Hwa-un.
'Still lacking in power.'
It was as Seol Hwa-un had anticipated. His form blurred as the incoming sword qi approached.
It was the Universe Shadowless Step.
Papat!
The sword qi harmlessly grazed past him.
"......!"
Even the Sword Demon was inwardly startled.
'Such exquisite footwork...!'
A surge of competitive spirit welled up in him.
'Fine, let's see you dodge this!'
Wooong!
The Sword Demon swept his greatsword horizontally, infusing it fully with inner power.
'Overlord Vast Slash!'
It was the second of the Overlord Sword's last three techniques.
Paaaak!
An enormous sword qi formed, filling the entire front. Its range was so vast and wide it was hard to believe it was a single strand.
The startled Demon Sword Ten Seats shouted.
"Overlord Vast Slash! Everyone, evade!!"
"What? Why would the Pavilion Master use that technique...!"
"Less talking, more evading!"
"......?!"
As the Demon Sword Ten Seats quickly widened the distance, the Central Plains onlookers sensed the crisis and scattered in all directions.
Thus, only Seol Hwa-un remained before the massive sword qi.
'What a brutish technique.'
At this range, even the Universe Shadowless Step offered no escape.
'But it's not without a way.'
The sword qi was already upon him.
"......"
Seol Hwa-un's gaze deepened.
Paat!
His fist shone whiter than ever before.
'Ice River Nine Splits Divine Fist, Second Form.'
Seol Hwa-un thrust his fist forward with full force. Though a single strike, two faint fist shadows appeared alongside it.
'Three Layers Pressure Fist!'
Kwakwang!
Drdrdr!
The sword qi shuddered violently. For a very brief moment, it seemed to halt.
'Once more!'
Seol Hwa-un thrust again. This time, too, it was Three Layers Pressure Fist.
Kwakwang!
Tak!
Then, as if by miracle, the center of the sword qi split open.
"......!"
Kwaaaaaang!!
Everything within a radius of over ten paces—except where Seol Hwa-un stood—was utterly devastated.
Even through the rising dust obscuring the view, the Sword Demon knew Seol Hwa-un was unharmed.
'Pinpoint breakthrough...'
He had rarely used it more than a few times, but those who faced Overlord Vast Slash had only panicked or desperately tried to block it.
Of course, none had survived.
But breaking through by concentrating on a single point like Seol Hwa-un was unprecedented.
'Such precise technique execution.'
Focusing energy on one spot to minimize the impact area was no easy feat.
Even the Sword Demon couldn't confidently claim he could do it.
He let out a hollow laugh.
"Hahaha."
Even for the Sword Demon, the inner power consumed by Overlord Vast Slash was immense. His face had paled slightly.
"Impressive."
As the dust cleared and Seol Hwa-un's figure emerged, the Sword Demon stared at him with his sword lowered.
"Are we done now?"
"Indeed. The final technique remains, but at this point, it's meaningless."
It wasn't that he lacked confidence in felling Seol Hwa-un.
He had simply realized the shortcomings in his own swordsmanship upon seeing Seol Hwa-un shatter it.
"I finally completed all the Overlord Sword techniques and proclaimed myself the world's greatest swordsman."
Especially the final technique, Overlord Annihilation Calamity, was extraordinarily difficult.
After decades of effort, he had perfected it just days ago and left the Demon Sword Pavilion brimming with confidence.
Yet Seol Hwa-un had undone it all.
"Your responses have shown me my own arrogance. The path of the sword is endless, yet I was complacent in minor accomplishment."
Seol Hwa-un spoke.
"I acknowledge you as a great master. But even if not for others, I know you haven't yet surpassed the Heavenly Outer Sword Venerable."
The Heavenly Outer Sword Venerable, one of the Nine Heavenly Martial Emperors, was the ultimate goal of all swordsmen under heaven.
"How can you claim to be the world's greatest without surpassing him?"
The Sword Demon's face twisted involuntarily.
"......I know that too."
Clang!
Sheathing his sword, he muttered as if to himself.
"I nearly lost face badly."
A relaxed smile soon graced his features.
"Seol Hwa-un, was it?"
"Yes."
"You've already surpassed your father from his youth."
"......?!"
"You resemble him greatly. No, you're even more handsome?"
Seol Hwa-un couldn't help but ask.
"Have you met the Palace Lord... my father?"
"Indeed."
The Sword Demon's gaze turned distant.
"Back then, we were both quite green... But it was fun."
'So he held back initially because of Father.'
As curiosity about the Sword Demon's relationship with Seol Wi-myeong grew, Seol Hwa-un was about to ask for details.
"Until next time."
The Sword Demon's eyes gleamed coldly.
"......Next time, I'll face you not as a friend's son, but as a fellow warrior."
Pat!
His form soon shrank into a black dot and vanished. The Demon Sword Ten Seats followed in his wake.
"Ah......"
Tension released, some collapsed right there.
"Whew."
"W-We survived!"
It was none other than the Demonic Sword Demon and the core forces of the Demon Sword Pavilion, the Demon Sword Ten Seats.
Excluding Seol Hwa-un's group, they had more than enough power to slaughter everyone present.
Yet not a single death had occurred against them.
"......"
Pyo Il-lip and Jo Jin-hong approached Seol Hwa-un with hardened expressions as they surveyed the surroundings.
"Young Palace Lord."
"......"
"This was a matter between our sect and Zhongnan. Why did you intervene so recklessly?"
"Intervene?"
"Exactly. Your palace's members were guests invited by our sect. This is nothing short of disregarding our sect and Zhongnan."
Seol Hwa-un gave a faint smile.
'As expected, they're playing this card.'
"Thanks to the Young Palace Lord stepping in, the Sword Demon retreated, but......"
At that moment, Ma Seong-gyun's shout rang out.
"Martial Uncle!"
"Hm?"
He wore an incredulous expression.
"What is the meaning of this? The Young Palace Lord helped us! We should be expressing gratitude, not... whatever this is."
Jo Jin-hong said with a stern face.
"Why didn't you head to the main sect? Is this insubordination?"
"Martial Uncle, that's not the point right now!"
"Quiet. This isn't your place."
Seol Hwa-un spoke.
"I had no intention of intervening. But didn't Young Master Ma plead for my aid? I merely couldn't ignore a plea for help in the name of martial honor."
"......!"
Jo Jin-hong's eyes widened. He immediately turned to Ma Seong-gyun.
"Is this true?"
"Yes."
"You little...!"
About to bellow, he suddenly sighed deeply as some thought struck him.
"Sigh...... So that's how it was."
Jo Jin-hong clasped his hands in a formal salute toward Seol Hwa-un.
"My thanks for your assistance, Young Palace Lord."
Ma Seong-gyun blinked in bewilderment at the abrupt shift in demeanor.
"......?!"
In the meantime, Pyo Il-lip also saluted Seol Hwa-un.
"On behalf of the Zhongnan Sect disciples, I offer my thanks."
Seol Hwa-un calmly accepted the gesture.
"No need to mention it."
A furrow creased Ma Seong-gyun's brow.
'What the hell is going on here?!"
One of the things orthodox sects, including the Nine Great Sects, valued most was 'pretext.'
If Seol Hwa-un had stepped in simply to help, it would have been an insult to their sects, trampling their pride.
But if they had first requested aid, it was different. Seol Hwa-un had the 'pretext' to help them, and thus those who received aid offered thanks.
Soon, the disciples of both sects tended to the wounded and sent the two severely injured elders back to the Zhongnan Sect.
The two great sect disciples also apologized to the dignitaries in the guest seats.
As the situation settled somewhat, Pyo Il-lip blankly looked around. The clash between Seol Hwa-un and the Sword Demon had left the surroundings in ruins.
No one would guess this had been the site of the Zhonghua Assembly.
"......This Zhonghua Assembly is ruined."
In fact, by clashing with the Sword Demon and forcing his retreat, Seol Hwa-un had only elevated their prestige.