Chapter 242
Chapter 242
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 242
Chapter Title: Heavenly Realm
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It had been about half a shichen since we entered Dragon King's Valley.
Wooooo...
A massive sea of clouds slithered through the gorge like a dragon. Normally, such a sight was hard to catch with the naked eye, but the rugged terrain and thick mists of Dragon King's Valley made it a majestic spectacle.
I stood calmly on a tree branch protruding from the cliff, gazing silently at the Sword Demon leading the way ahead.
The Sword Demon was climbing the cliff about thirty zhang ahead of me. With our lightness skills, scaling a cliff like this wouldn't take long, but there was a reason he was deliberately taking the lead and moving slowly.
A deadly mist formation.
Whether it was man-made or natural, the Sword Demon had said that trying to push through Dragon King's Valley's treacherous terrain with just lightness skills would leave us wandering inside forever. Possessing considerable knowledge of formations himself, he had taken point to scout out the dangerous spots.
Soon, the Sword Demon leaped to the summit of the peak and sent me a telepathic message.
[Come here.]
Swoosh!
I followed him up to the peak nestled between the jagged gorges. The cliff was hundreds of zhang high, yet the standing space at the top was barely one zhang wide—perfectly fitting its name, Pointed Peak.
The waiting Sword Demon spoke to me.
"My heart is racing."
"What do you mean?"
"We've nearly reached the center of this deadly formation. It seems there was a natural barrier-like terrain here from the start, but someone artificially refined it, turning it into an even more terrifying place."
Muttering that, the Sword Demon gazed toward the west. Visibility was less than one zhang through the thick fog, yet his eyes gleamed with certainty that something was there.
He continued, eyes flashing.
"And deep inside... there's something terrifying."
"A terrifying existence... human?"
"Most likely. My instincts as an expert are blaring danger signals nonstop, and faint formless auras are mingling in the air."
"I don't sense anything."
"It's too subtle for you to detect at your current level—just a fleeting hint. Even I only noticed after entering this formation and having my senses heightened."
"......"
Feeling the gap in our martial prowess, chills ran down my spine.
'Even in this savage wilderness, he can sense a presence? From dozens of li away? Is that even possible for a human?'
Impossible at my current intent level. The existence beyond the fog was undoubtedly a monstrous expert, just as Baek Ri-jeong-un had described.
The Sword Demon sat down cross-legged.
"Time to decide. How to handle it if we meet that one."
"That level of expert striking first would be fatal for us."
"So what do you want to do?"
"From here, advance slowly to pinpoint its location first. Then ambush."
"......"
The Sword Demon stared at me intently after hearing my words—so openly that I felt embarrassed.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Your thinking is purely practical. Most late-stage prodigies would be busy revering a mysterious master, but you immediately pondered how to kill it upon hearing me."
What?
Unsure what was wrong, I tilted my head.
"Uh... is that bad?"
"Hahaha."
The Sword Demon burst into laughter at my question.
"No. It just strikes me that you've been thoroughly trained in the Thunder God Style. You don't flinch even against a superior expert—not to mention thinking of killing. And you're utterly cold. Perfectly honed for real combat."
"......!!"
"The Thunder God Style... the more I think about it, the more impressive the school is. Its teachings and training are ruthlessly practical, yet its insights and limits are profoundly high. Well deserving of being called the pinnacle martial house of the jianghu."
I grew confused.
'Trained in the Thunder God Style? My thought process?'
Maybe.
Over a century of martial life, I'd spent more than seventy percent studying and training relentlessly in the Thunder God Style. Master Lee Gwang's methods were as brutal as Master Myeongnyongja's—sometimes so grueling I'd collapse when my muscles screamed in protest. Naturally, the style's combat tips and engagement rules had been etched into my instincts.
But it wasn't entirely welcome. Every time I thought about it, a battle instinct boiled up from within. An urge to smash and shatter anything blocking my path. That's why Thunder God Style training always included time to temper the mind.
As I fell silent, the Sword Demon spoke.
"The foe we'll face from here is no mere Poison Horse— a true powerhouse beyond comparison. If you're turning back, now's the time."
"...Then we should turn back."
The Sword Demon grumbled.
"No spirit."
"No need to risk our lives for something unnecessary. Discovering the valley's inhabitant is a monstrous expert is gain enough."
Yeah, right.
No need to stake our lives on this.
There were plenty of things worth risking my life for later—ones where I alone could stake it, without dragging the Sword Demon in. I firmly believed my judgment was correct.
But the Sword Demon chuckled.
"Hmm... trouble."
"Yes?"
"While we talked, it seems that side lost patience first. It's coming."
"What?!"
Swoooosh—
His prediction came true. Out of nowhere, a massive sword qi—grotesquely huge—tore through the sky toward us with a piercing whistle. Reflexively, I turned toward it and summoned my sword gang.
Kwaaaaang!!
I swiftly unleashed a sword strike to deflect the sword qi, but my hands went numb. The qi was over ten zhang wide, packing monstrous power. I realized what it meant that even my sword gang intent barely withstood it.
'An expert who wields intent freely!'
A supreme master possessing advanced realm cultivation that could infuse several times the normal power despite sword qi's limits! In that single exchange, I grasped the vast gap between us. Unless I diligently cultivated intent for decades, victory was impossible.
Rumble...
As the cliff we stood on crumbled, the Sword Demon shot into the air, already battle-ready.
I flipped in midair and used Soul Extinguishing Step to cross to another peak. I could have used Heavenly Ascension, but wanted to avoid needless qi drain. The moment my feet touched solid ground again, a massive shout echoed.
[Who the hell are you?]
Boom!
At the same instant, thunderous roars exploded. Precisely, the Sword Demon's sword gang clashed with the opponent's, unleashing a colossal energy wave. The mingled intent and killing aura shook heaven and earth.
From the echoes, I instantly pinpointed the battlefield. Cautiously scanning my footing, I began leaping forward using Soul Extinguishing Step's propulsion. Dragon King's Valley was a hellish terrain where ordinary folk couldn't take a single step.
Flash.
After covering about a hundred zhang with Soul Extinguishing Step, I began sensing fierce intent clashes beyond the mist, continuously shattering the air. The moment the mysterious expert attacked, the Sword Demon had charged in and exchanged initial blows.
[Ha!]
The Sword Demon's will focused, manifesting a flying sword in the air. The translucent flying sword sliced through space with a sleek trajectory, spiraling in—a hallmark of his Shadowless Soul-Separating Swordsmanship.
At the same time, a metallic clang rang out as the opponent repelled the flying sword. Seeing the massive blue membrane beyond the mist, I let out a groan.
"Body Protecting Sword Gang!"
Unlike mere body protecting qi, this pinnacle defense required extreme internal energy and realm! Naturally, wielding it demanded intent mastery, and it often blended offense and defense. Body Protecting Sword Gang was proof of an absolute peak expert.
The mysterious expert, having repelled the flying sword with Body Protecting Sword Gang, roared in amusement. Immense internal energy resonated.
[Hahaha!! Not bad!]
Ziiing.
That was the moment. The mists tore asunder as if light leaked through. In truth, the expert had formed his own flying sword and was hurling it at the Sword Demon like a light bolt. Even from afar, their vast number signaled an extraordinary intent technique.
"Urgh!!"
The Sword Demon parried and counterattacked, and soon the two absolute experts began vying in minute exchanges, not wasting a wisp of qi. Astonishingly, in this inhuman terrain, they drew full power from mere footholds.
Kagang!
Kang!
Fierce sword clashes rang out amid scattering radiant sword gangs—a magnificent sight.
I'd approached to within about twenty zhang, but hesitated to close in recklessly. The thick mist obscured vision, making intervention difficult, and there was no guarantee it'd help. In such supreme experts' duels, the slightest move could decide victory.
'Damn. What now?'
I couldn't just hesitate. Gritting my teeth, I edged closer. Twenty zhang was stable against their derivative strikes, but I decided to close further for a clear view.
I'd narrowed another ten zhang or so when—
Chill.
A nerve-gnawing sensation hit. Not mere formless aura threat—it heralded a lethal strike aimed to sever my life. In an instant, I pinpointed its direction and swung my sword gang with focused intent.
Kwaang!
A blast repelled the thunderbolt. It was a stealthy energy laced with lightning targeting my nape. Blocking it, I hurriedly stepped back, as the Sword Demon bellowed.
"Overconfident!"
Swaaah—
A Coiling Dragon Sword variation lashed from his blade. Space warped entirely as the technique dissolved into chaotic thrusts—but truly, an intricate sword path piercing vitals, a killing blow.
'Got him!'
Irked by me, the mysterious expert had used a breath for a sneak attack, exposing a golden opening to the Sword Demon. Sure enough, flustered by the abrupt variation, he didn't counter but retreated hastily. The Sword Demon pursued relentlessly, snaking like a viper.
Poised to end it, the Sword Demon's swift blade halted mid-mist. Retracting his sword path, he flipped into the air and landed on a nearby peak.
Why withdraw?
Puzzled, his next words cleared it.
"Sword Thunder... You're a sword master unlike any I've seen in my life."
I looked at the sword in the Dragon King's Valley expert's right hand. Close enough to see lightning dancing like a living thing. It drifted through the mist in serene glow, ethereal.
'Sword Thunder?'
First I'd heard of it. But the Sword Demon's grave expression showed he deemed this realm extraordinary.
The Valley expert, who had been battling the Sword Demon to the death, withdrew his Sword Thunder and unleashed a Six Harmonies Sword Strike.
[I feel the same. You're not of the White Lotus Cult, yet Central Plains harbors such a sword master?]
"Of course not. I am Sword Demon Seo Mun-daeryong, leader of Shadowless Sect, and my companion is my disciple."
[Sword Demon... the demonic faction's top expert?]
"That's me."
[I thought Central Plains folk full of empty fame, but you've changed my mind today.]
The Valley expert sounded admiring. Likely revering the Sword Demon's prowess as a fellow warrior. I realized their skills were nearly equal—a realm far beyond my reach.
The Dragon King's Valley expert introduced himself.
[I am Dugu Xing.]
Dugu Xing?
A name I'd never heard. Even the Sword Demon asked suspiciously.
"From where, and of what sect?"
[Why should I tell you?]
"I have a guess, but I'd like to hear it direct."
[A guess... Fine, speak it.]
Dugu Xing mocked, brimming with confidence we'd never identify his sect.
The Sword Demon replied.
"I've seen and felt swordsmanship similar to yours many times. Though nothing as powerful and fearsome as yours—an absolute art. That's why I'm still somewhat unsure."
[What?]
"It was called Thunder Shadow Swordsmanship."
[......!!]
Dugu Xing froze at the words. His shock was palpable even through the mist.
"Dugu Xing."
My eyes widened at the Sword Demon's follow-up.
"You're not a Thunder God Style expert?"
============================ Author's Note ============================
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