Chapter 183
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 183
Chapter Title: Promises Aren't Made Lightly (4)
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It was a chilling reality.
Mujin hadn't even used any major deceptive arts. It was merely a clever application of them. And yet, even the Fist King had been utterly helpless against it. In truth, it had taken more than half a month just to get accustomed to them.
"Shall we get serious now?"
"The price for deceiving me won't be light."
"You know that, so why go through with it?"
"Not a chance. You think I'll fall for it again?!"
Tension rippled across Hwangbo Gwan-hyuk's face.
He hadn't overlooked the profound insight packed into that single fist, even if it had exploited a gap with an unusual technique to score a hit. It was a true masterstroke, refined through tens of thousands of repetitions. Even without deceptive arts, it was no pushover.
'Talk is cheap—fists speak louder.'
-You could've sorted this cleanly with Soul-Piercing Demonic Eye. No need for fists.
'Then why didn't you stop me?'
-Why should I?
'Overcoming it yourself is different from being taught.'
-Hmph.
The reason the righteous faction's warriors had been caught off guard during the Demonic Cult of the Demon God's assault was those deceptive arts. Even masters were easily felled when the arts combined with martial techniques. That's why training focused on teaching allies how to adapt to them.
'Let's see you handle the orthodox approach.'
Mujin and the Fist King's fists erupted like flames.
Though he'd been taken down in one blow, the Fist King's martial prowess was no joke. He possessed the might of a hegemon. Overconfidence in that power had been his downfall.
The terror of deceptive arts lay in failing to even realize you'd been hit. At the pinnacle of orthodox techniques, falling for them was rare. Thus, the Fist King hadn't even suspected he'd been caught by one.
But once overcome, the story changed. You'd gain a kind of immunity to most deceptive arts. The Fist King wouldn't fall for them so easily anymore.
Boom boom boom boom!
The distance between Mujin and the Fist King was just ten feet.
Only a single fist strike advanced, yet it entangled in 108 exchanges. It looked like one blow to the eye, but their fist winds were so fast it created that illusion. Moreover, each one's destructive power far surpassed common sense.
Craaaaaack, whoooooosh!
Each blast exceeded rational limits, but they weren't identical. He modulated the power, layering it precisely. Meeting them with equal force could get you overwhelmed.
This in itself was extraordinary. Infusing such speed with destructive power while fine-tuning intensity wasn't simple.
Gasp!
The Fist King nearly swallowed his tongue as his guard almost broke. Not even a single breath's lapse was allowed. It required exquisite internal energy control and bodily refinement at the absolute peak.
'The incarnation of dominance!'
The more they clashed, the more the Fist King shuddered at Mujin's domineering aura, something he'd never felt even from the Divine State's Twenty-One Strong. To think such a monster existed—his past days of arrogantly claiming supremacy from a well's depths filled him with shame.
-Heavenly King Divine Art: Heaven's Will.
It wasn't perfect, but he could hide it no longer. He infused his body with heaven's will. Though faint, he developed his upper dantian, linking it to his middle and lower ones. Suddenly, a new world unfolded before him.
Hmm.
Mujin showed interest in the Fist King's change. Opening the upper dantian was dangerous. It went beyond mere superhuman feats. Reckless activation could shatter body and mind from overload.
Yet if you found your own effective method, you could unlock another realm, just like this.
"You're sensing a lot more now, aren't you?"
To the Fist King, Mujin's fist work would now appear fragmented, thread by thread. He might think the speed had slowed, but no—it was his elevated stage transcending his vision, insight, and internal-external limits, allowing him to track Mujin's true speed.
"So that's where it was hiding."
"Time to settle this."
"It won't be easy."
"You can't maintain it long yet."
He no longer marveled at Mujin's insight piercing his state in an instant. The Fist King acknowledged Mujin—and his overwhelming strength.
-Heavenly King Three Fists: First Form, Invincible Heavenly King.
The Hwangbo family's proud ultimate fist art exploded from the Fist King's hand. He was the first in clan history to reach its pinnacle. The perfected form surpassed formless fists, entering the realm of heart fists.
Kraaaaaaaaang!
Should it be called mountain-shattering?
A storm-like fist shadow crushed down on Mujin's space. How could a mere human block the Heavenly King's descent? Divine heavenly power activated.
Whooooosh!
The Fist King didn't stop.
He instinctively knew this wouldn't end it. He chained into Heavenly King Three Fists' Heavenly King Descends to Earth and Heavenly King Reigns Supreme. Giant fist phantoms painted the space, relentlessly pressing Mujin without mercy.
Booooom!
The enraged Heavenly King's roar heralded terrestrial apocalypse, violent ripples shaking the area. Even the Infinite Radiant Array barely withstood the shockwaves. Scorching air emanated terrifying heat that could melt flesh on contact.
"You're really heating things up."
Mujin burst through the steam toward the Fist King. The Fist King's eyes widened in shock at the incoming assault.
Gasp!
He hadn't dodged the world-shaking Heavenly King Three Fists but met them head-on entirely. An unbelievable, wondrous sight.
But no time for admiration. The Fist King hurriedly gathered his energy to counter.
Once more, Mujin and the Fist King's fists vied for supremacy. Time pressed the Fist King—he had to go all out, no reserves left. For Mujin, dragging it out sealed victory.
But Mujin didn't want that kind of win.
He was too stubborn for it.
Pa pa pa pa pa, boooom!
In the fist arena, Mujin and the Fist King's strikes clashed fiercely. Razor-sharp circular shockwaves layered outward from them. Each time, Mount Tai Pavilion lost form, as if screaming for mercy.
Gasp!
Hwangbo Jang-cheon and Hwangbo Jang-seong held their ground, but it drained immense mental and internal energy. The clash of two absolutes radiated murderous intent.
'Calling that guy Heavenly Luck Fist? They've thoroughly deceived the world!'
'He still had power in reserve!'
When they heard he'd used deceptive arts, they'd thought orthodox methods gave them a chance. Wrong! Mujin's fists rivaled their father's. They'd been confident when he unleashed the perfected Heavenly King Three Fists. But he'd neutralized their clan's ultimate with his own fists.
'Impossible!'
'No way!'
The tide turned in a flash. An illogical reversal. Their father's resistance for a comeback proved futile. He chained clan secrets—Thunderclap Divine Fist, Mount Tai Heavy Hand, Mount Tai Eighteen Forms—but they didn't even graze, veering off trajectory.
Thwack!
The Fist King, struck in a split-second opening, took full-body hits before regaining stance. Mujin's form accelerated with momentum. Even Heavenly King Divine Art's limit—heaven's will—couldn't keep up.
Papapapapapapapapapung!
Then began the ordeal and adversity.
The Fist King became a tough sandbag. He took every fist arena barrage on his body. His face lost shape, flesh swelled, bruises bloomed blue. Unintentionally airborne, he got slammed like against an invisible wall.
Papapapapapapapung!
Ever heard a leather ball burst? But rest easy—the Fist King's tempered body wouldn't rupture from this. Mujin's confidence stemmed from his own laid-back warrior experience.
......Ah!
This shock differed from a knockout blow. Hwangbo Jang-cheon and Hwangbo Jang-seong watched dazed. But they soon grasped their reality.
"......Hey!"
"You trying to kill our father?!"
Unless they wanted blood feud with in-laws, it was time to stop. Honestly, that beating would breed grudges where none existed.
"Father-in-law's tough. Among bodies I've never beaten, he's top three. No worries!"
"......?"
What nonsense was that?!
Who talks like that?!
Unheard-of drivel.
It praised Father's divinity but screamed intent to beat more. What kids would accept that meekly? Hwangbo Jang-cheon and Hwangbo Jang-seong moved to intervene.
"Who wants next?"
Casual words, but they froze. Absurd bullshit, yet chills ran down spines. Father's pummeling image would haunt forever.
Papapapapapung!
Normal folk would leave no trace. Bone dust would be lucky.
Only because it was Father he endured. They couldn't claim his toughness.
"......No aftermath, right?"
"I'm the expert here. Pros handle what they've done tons of—and as one who's taken tons of beatings, I assure you. Plenty survived unscathed, excluding the dead or crippled."
......That damned bastard!
Hwangbo Jang-cheon and Hwangbo Jang-seong barely suppressed curses, forgetting he was family. They wanted to save Father, but the wretch kept pounding blindly, wielding formless fists like flying swords.
Papapapapapapung!
Formless fists held terrifying vortexes and cutting power. Normally no 'thwack-thwack'—more 'slash' or 'boom'. This meant perfect control over formless fist energy flow and modulation.
'Beaters beat best' rang true. Not crude 'beating'—watching it, a master's technique ascended to legend. Harmonizing straight and curved lines flawlessly with formless fists, beyond mere punches.
'Beautiful....... Oh no!'
Hwangbo Jang-cheon and Hwangbo Jang-seong berated themselves for zoning out. Father kept getting pummeled amid their hesitation. As sons, they couldn't just watch longer.
Groooooaaaan!
A groan-like wail escaped Father's lips.
"......Enough!"
The Fist King's strong will screamed no more. A normal man couldn't speak, revealing his survival drive.
Ah!
Mujin's regretful sigh chilled everyone.
Was this in-law sane? Doubts crashed like waves. Can't have a madman as family.
"Finding someone like Father-in-law ain't easy. Well, today's not the only day."
......Crunch!
Even as consciousness faded, the Fist King ground his teeth. No pain-free spot left. Agony etched into bones through steel-like skin.
Thud!
As the Fist King passed out, Mujin turned to Hwangbo Jang-cheon and Hwangbo Jang-seong.
"No deceptive arts this time."
"......Wait!"
They'd rather he used them.
Knockout beat becoming Father's mush.
Mujin kindly shared the pain father-to-sons.
Papapapapapung!
Kraaaaaaaa!
The spar ended when Mujin said so. That was the deal.
'Promises aren't made lightly.'
-Always thought so, but you're shameless.