The Revival of the Paradise Cult (4)
‘Now the board is finally set.’
The Paradise Heavenly God revealed himself before the multitude with an arrogant expression.
His goal from the start had been all these martial artists.
This was the only way to compress the time needed to complete the Heavenly Blood Divine Art.
That was why the Paradise Heavenly God had willingly become a pawn in the schemes of Jong Ri-gwang, the Divine Calculation Wonder Hand and military strategist of the Murim Alliance, and joined the fray.
There was just one problem.
The key was how to deal with the fearsome Demon Sword Young Master Hyeon Yucheon, renowned for his terrifying reputation and martial prowess...
Swoosh!
The Paradise Heavenly God’s eyes naturally sought out Hyeon Yucheon.
And sure enough?
Fwaaah!
Hyeon Yucheon glared at the Paradise Heavenly God with a fury unlike any before.
Moreover, the monstrous inner power surging from his entire body left even the supremely arrogant Paradise Heavenly God taken aback.
“Are you the vile cult leader of the Paradise Cult?”
Hyeon Yucheon held back not only himself but also Jeong Chilgyu, who looked ready to charge at any moment, and asked with forced calm.
“I am no cult leader. I am the Heavenly God.”
The Paradise Heavenly God spoke in his characteristic arrogant tone.
Strictly speaking, he no longer considered himself a mere Heavenly God but a true heavenly being.
He had cultivated the Heavenly Blood Divine Art, though not yet perfected it. Once complete, he was certain it would elevate him to divine might.
“You’re quite mad.”
Hyeon Yucheon saw through him instantly.
‘This guy’s not right in the head.’
The vast world of the martial realm was full of geniuses and madmen alike, as numerous as grains of sand in the Yangtze River.
Unfortunately, the Paradise Heavenly God belonged to both categories: extraordinarily talented, yet mentally unhinged.
“The mad one is you, Demon Sword Young Master Hyeon Yucheon. You may be strong... but only by human standards.”
The Paradise Heavenly God laughed.
And there was another hidden reason he had volunteered to face Hyeon Yucheon.
‘To complete the twelve great accomplishments of the Heavenly Blood Divine Art, I need an immense prize at the final stage.’
Not the warriors gathered so far, but a soul and vital energy far superior.
The completed power of the Heavenly Blood Divine Art would depend on the caliber of that final offering.
“Sect Leader Hyeon. Don’t waste words on this wicked fiend. He’s surely plotting something.”
Jeong Chilgyu, the Immortal Fighter and King of Ronin, shouted from afar where he glared at the Paradise Heavenly God.
His seasoned caution hit the mark precisely.
Sneer!
The Paradise Heavenly God laughed broadly once more and unleashed a pre-prepared evil sorcery from the unorthodox schools.
A wicked sorcerous formation conjured from the blood of countless warriors.
This bizarrely named Bloodblood Monstrous Paradise Heaven Formation was truly strange.
Typical martial formations involved groups executing linked or wheel arrays simultaneously, but this one was formed from the spilled blood of many.
Flash-flash-flash-flash-flash!
As the Paradise Heavenly God moved his hands, the blood of Paradise Cultists, Paradise Lion guardians, and today’s sacrificed warriors went berserk.
Like living creatures possessed, the blood streams writhed madly, forming massive spears and swords that targeted Hyeon Yucheon and his allies.
“Be careful!”
Hyeon Yucheon warned Jeong Chilgyu, the ronin, and the Demon Sword Sect warriors watching from behind, then finally extended his hand.
Invisible flaming sword qi erupts in a hellish inferno.
The Paradise Heavenly God had struck at a vulnerable moment, but who was his opponent?
The Demon Sword Young Master Hyeon Yucheon had surpassed the supremacy of unorthodox sects to claim the title of the current world’s greatest—and one of history’s finest.
Roooar!
What made Hyeon Yucheon terrifying was his caution: he never underestimated even seemingly insignificant foes.
‘I knew you’d pull some filthy trick.’
Hyeon Yucheon had anticipated this attack and, as expected, it was a vile sorcery using blood.
And since ancient times, such sorceries were vulnerable to scorching hot fire arts.
Boasting near-infinite inner power, Hyeon Yucheon unleashed the Formless Hot Fire Sword repeatedly.
The result?
Sizzzzzzle!
Like moisture vanishing in a drought, the blood spears and swords poured by the Paradise Heavenly God evaporated cleanly under Hyeon Yucheon’s repeated fiery strikes, a veritable Hot Fire Hell.
Evaporated—literally.
“Th-this...”
The Paradise Heavenly God, who believed himself above heaven and earth, the sole true god amid worthless humans, was left dumbfounded by this insane phenomenon—even his sweat evaporated.
‘Is this truly human inner power?’
He had unleashed various sorceries, including this Bloodblood Monstrous Paradise Heaven Formation, but this was unprecedented.
Many had countered with fire arts, only to die without effect.
But Hyeon Yucheon was different.
With one strike, he shattered not just the sorcery but the Paradise Heavenly God’s lofty pride.
In truth, this formation, once activated, couldn’t be stopped until it absorbed all nearby blood—and the Paradise Heavenly God only used it against a hundred or more warriors.
“My esteemed master, the Demon Sword Ghost Elder Cheon Baeksang, once said:”
Hyeon Yucheon looked down calmly at the stunned Paradise Heavenly God.
He remained utterly composed.
Before Hyeon Yucheon’s poise, the Paradise Heavenly God’s arrogance faded, his face stiffening.
“No matter how powerful or bizarre the sorcery, it cannot match the pinnacle of martial arts.”
Hyeon Yucheon spoke truth.
The Demon Sword Ghost Elder had some interest in unorthodox sorceries but soon lost it for this very reason.
No matter how mighty, sorcery bowed before pure, refined martial force.
“I—the Paradise Heavenly God—cannot match you? Don’t make me laugh!”
Trembling with rage at Hyeon Yucheon’s transmission of the Demon Sword Ghost Elder’s philosophy, transcending time and generations, the Paradise Heavenly God shook.
Even for him, after long years, the elder’s prestige wounded his pride.
Black and blood-red energies intertwine ferociously across the body.
The Paradise Heavenly God finally unleashed his ultimate technique, the Heavenly Blood Divine Art.
Grrrrr!
The moment he circulated it, a ghastly hue of black and blood-red emanated from his body.
Its ferocity and eeriness were indescribably ominous.
Most astonishing was the transformation.
Though incomplete, as the pinnacle of Paradise Cult sorcery, the unfinished art swelled his muscles.
And more?
Shwaaa!
Malevolent, wicked power poured from his body, his eyes gleaming like a beast’s.
“Kuhuhuhu!”
The Paradise Heavenly God, empowered by the Heavenly Blood Divine Art, was no longer human.
Half-man, half-demon.
Even more shocking:
Scorching invisible flames assail the foe once more.
Hyeon Yucheon tried again with the Formless Hot Fire Sword’s blazing inferno to overcome the wicked art, but it was powerfully resilient.
Roooar!
Empowered by the Heavenly Blood Divine Art, the Paradise Heavenly God suffered no wounds or burns—instead, he laughed.
“Kuhuhuhu! I am nearly immortal.”
The Paradise Heavenly God cried out in laughter.
His words rang true.
With completion so near, and today’s myriad warriors plus Hyeon Yucheon as offerings, the once-unimaginable perfection of the Heavenly Blood Divine Art would become reality.
“Nearly immortal? Then not quite.”
Hyeon Yucheon laughed once more.
He had been briefly startled that his attacks failed.
Yet the Paradise Heavenly God boasted openly of his incomplete, non-immortal body.
That was enough for Hyeon Yucheon.
“Then I’ll cut you down until you die.”
With his usual languid, cold expression, Hyeon Yucheon unleashed another supreme strike of the Formless Flash Quick Sword.
The fastest, most powerful strike short of the Formless Mysteries—leaving no afterimages.
This time, the Formless Spectral Extreme Sword, the swiftest and strongest without the Formless Mysteries, delivered ultimate speed without even phantoms.
Hyeon Yucheon had felled countless experts with this alone.
Slash!
This time should be no different.
The electrifying Formless Spectral Extreme Sword carved through bone and flesh, delivering a gritty sensation.
He expected massive damage, but the result was unexpected.
Sneer!
Incredibly, the Paradise Heavenly God—with his upper body gravely damaged—wore a wicked smile.
Even more astonishing was his response.
Any super peak expert would suffer grievous wounds or death from such a blow.
But not him.
Slither!
He regenerated enormously almost instantly, healing the gash.
Most shocking: no blood flowed, the severed wound sealing on its own—a clear heaven-defying sorcery.
“Kuhahaha! See? This is the power of a heavenly god transcending humanity to reach divinity!”
The Paradise Heavenly God mocked Hyeon Yucheon, whose eyes now showed surprise.
Though incomplete, ordinary attacks couldn’t kill him.
As he claimed, his body rivaled immortality, regenerating endlessly as long as inner power remained.
‘I’ll overwhelm and crush you with my near-immortal power.’
That was his aim.
Hyeon Yucheon’s inner power was near-infinite, but stamina had limits.
Dragging this into a prolonged battle, offering surrounding warriors to amplify the Heavenly Blood Divine Art, would let him capture Hyeon Yucheon.
“The difference between mortal and divine is perishability versus immortality. I have transcended humanity to become the heavenly god who shall rule this martial world!”
His eyes grew madder with fanaticism when—
“Doubtful? You don’t seem perfected yet.”
Hyeon Yucheon remained unshaken by his foe’s dominance.
‘Startled for a moment, but nothing in this world is eternally unharmed or undying.’
All life marched toward mortality from birth.
Thus, the Paradise Heavenly God’s vile sorcery was mere heaven-defying trickery, unable to transcend mortal karma.
Yet it posed a dire challenge.
How to fell a foe regenerating near-immortally?
“Have a way to defeat me?”
The Paradise Heavenly God gloated, toasting premature victory!
“Of course.”
Hyeon Yucheon knew the answer to this conundrum.
There was only one: since immortality was unfinished, hack and slash until death—reduce to dust.
“You’ll bitterly regret not dying sooner.”
Hyeon Yucheon vowed boldly and demonstrated the truth.
The first ultimate technique of the Formless Flash Quick Sword—endless invisible strikes.
The Demon Sword Young Master finally drew his Formless Mystery.