Chapter 182
Chapter 182
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 182
Chapter Title: Evolution (1)
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"Kuhk!"
With a single cry of agony, Paeng Man-ho dropped to his knees.
Frost had settled white from his head to his toes, and the blood flowing from his wounds had frozen solid like ice in an instant.
"Palace Lord."
Mo Gong-jeong, the grand elder of the North Sea Ice Palace, approached with leisurely steps. He glanced at Paeng Man-ho's wretched state and spoke.
"We've taken care of everything."
"You did well. It's over here too."
Buk Ri-hwang nodded lightly and gazed at Paeng Man-ho, who was struggling to catch his breath.
"Tsk tsk. If you'd accepted our proposal from the start, it wouldn't have come to this."
"Sh-shut your mouth! I'd sooner die than submit to the likes of you."
"People who stake their lives on pride... It was just as I expected."
"Don't think this is the end. Our clan may have fallen to you, but the Central Plains martial world isn't as weak as you think. They'll avenge us."
At Paeng Man-ho's furious shout, a relaxed smile formed on Buk Ri-hwang's lips instead.
"Will they? I doubt they'll have the luxury."
Buk Ri-hwang continued with a sneer.
"Even with the Heavenly Demon Cult stirring, the Murim Alliance didn't budge. They were too busy fighting over their own territories. And now there's this Righteous Heaven Alliance? Their turf wars will only get fiercer. On top of that, they've got the Heavenly Demon Cult to deal with. Who would waste time on your fallen Paeng Clan?"
"......"
Paeng Man-ho had no reply.
"Besides, that place you despise so much is on the move again."
At the words "that place you despise," Paeng Man-ho's eyes shook violently.
"N-no way!"
"Truth be told, we had no real reason to act. You mocked our barren, worthless land, but to us, it's the most comfortable and precious home. Still, we have our greed for fertile grounds. We just never had the chance to expand."
"Y-you received orders from the... Blood Slaughter Cult?!"
Paeng Man-ho cried out weakly.
"A few months ago, a young man visited our palace. He introduced himself as the leader of the Blood Slaughter Cult. Quite the interesting fellow. And a strong one."
Buk Ri-hwang grimaced as he recalled his spar with the Blood Slaughter Cult leader.
The deal had been satisfactory. But the outcome of their duel was not.
"His proposal was most intriguing. Who knows what the future holds, but for now..."
"Enough."
Mo Gong-jeong tapped his arm and shook his head. Only then did Buk Ri-hwang notice Paeng Man-ho's breath had stopped. He gave a bitter smile.
"Damn it. Just thinking of that guy shatters my composure."
"That's how strong he was."
Mo Gong-jeong spoke as if he understood. In seventy years of friendship, he'd never seen his comrade so frustrated.
"Yeah. Terrifyingly strong."
Buk Ri-hwang clenched his fist without realizing it.
Sima Geon of the Divine Demon Clan and the Blood Slaughter Cult leader—Yajeol Jae, the former chief of Golden Arm Manor who had retired twenty years ago and vanished from memory—faced each other across a distance of five jang.
The eyes of those watching from a short distance away filled with tension. But those following Yajeol Jae showed no emotion whatsoever.
Five jang was a considerable distance, but to masters like Sima Geon and Yajeol Jae, it was as good as arm's reach.
The auras they exuded were terrifying.
A storm-like wind swirled around them.
Yajeol Jae moved first.
The moment Sima Geon felt the man's shoulder twitch, a streak of lightning tore through space.
It was the Blood Sea Demon Lord's technique, Radiant Flash.
Sima Geon countered with the pinnacle of Single Heaven Nine Forms: Extreme Fury Radiant Sound.
Ultimate speed clashing with ultimate speed.
To those watching, it looked like the two merely swung their swords at each other a couple of times. But in the blink of an eye, across those five jang, dozens of fierce exchanges had unfolded.
Sharp whooshes of air and ensuing clashes rang out continuously. Their clothes and bodies were sliced open with precision.
"That's not Radiant Flash. What is it?"
Yajeol Jae sheathed his sword and asked with suspicious eyes.
As far as he knew, no sword in martial history was faster than the Blood Sea Demon Lord's Radiant Flash—not even after its refinement to an even swifter level through relentless effort. Yet Sima Geon's sword matched his own.
Sima Geon gave no answer and inspected his body.
In a single breath, his clothes were in tatters.
A cold smile touched his lips.
"You've certainly advanced the Blood Sea Demon Lord's techniques."
Yajeol Jae's brow furrowed at Sima Geon's dismissive tone, which offered no real answer.
"Arrogant."
Yajeol Jae leaped toward Sima Geon, his sword flashing swiftly.
Lightning Thunder Blood Sword's ultimate strike: Blazing Radiance.
Crimson flames erupted from the blade, dominating the entire space around them.
The instant Yajeol Jae moved, Sima Geon discerned exactly which technique he was unleashing.
The Heavenly Demon Sword traced a diagonal line, weaving an arcane transformation.
Heavenly Net Starlight.
Kwa-kwa-kwang!
A violent clash echoed, fierce flames sweeping everywhere. But not a single tongue of fire pierced the aura from the Heavenly Demon Sword; they scattered into the void.
Startled by the effortless block, Yajeol Jae pressed on with continuous attacks.
They were the Blood Sea Demon Lord's signature moves, which Sima Geon knew well. But their power was undoubtedly greater.
Judging that the Three Demon Lords' arts couldn't fully counter them, Sima Geon relied on Single Heaven Nine Forms to respond.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwang!
Ku-ku-ku-kung!
Earth-shaking roars accompanied shockwaves that devastated the surroundings.
The onlookers retreated frantically, tracking their movements.
The relentless, no-quarter exchange continued.
Unlike Cheol Woo and Neung Sohwa, who could somewhat follow, everyone else was awestruck by the world-shaking duel, reduced to gasps of amazement.
'Until now, only the North Heaven Sword Demon traded blows evenly with the chief. Even then, there was a clear gap in skill. But this guy...'
Cheol Woo stared at Yajeol Jae swinging his sword with flushed excitement, unable to hide his shock.
He'd realized it when blocking his strike and countering, but this foe was stronger than anyone he'd faced.
An ominous premonition crept up.
'No way!'
Cheol Woo shook his head hastily.
Even if the sky fell, Sima Geon wouldn't lose.
'Show him what you've got, chief!'
As Cheol Woo cheered inwardly, Neung Sohwa watched with a slightly different sentiment. She worried for and trusted Sima Geon no less than he did, but at some point, she became fully immersed in the fight.
When Yajeol Jae attacked, she imagined herself as Sima Geon; when Sima Geon struck, she became Yajeol Jae defending. She was dueling in her mind.
The fiercer the exchange, the more her expression shifted dramatically.
She tried matching their blows with her lifelong Celestial Flow Swordsmanship, but it was no easy feat. Sweat beaded thick on her forehead, her back soaked.
The battle raged on for what felt like an eternity.
No one could claim either had gained the upper hand; the deadlock persisted.
Neither yielded an inch, leaving both in dire straits.
Their clothes were shredded, their bodies covered in wounds large and small. Blood flowed freely, staining the ground red.
'What the hell is this guy?!'
Yajeol Jae couldn't help but be stunned by Sima Geon, who stood firm like a mountain no matter how fiercely he attacked.
As time passed, he felt himself the one crumbling.
Sima Geon's earlier words flashed back: the Three Demon Lords had trained together to surpass the Heavenly Demon's arts.
Now he understood. The techniques Sima Geon wielded weren't merely the Three Demon Lords'—they were forged collaboratively to defeat the Heavenly Demon.
'If this continues, I'll lose.'
Feeling the mounting pressure from Sima Geon's sharpening assaults, Yajeol Jae made his resolve.
The technique born from his secluded training, granting bone-shedding rebirth and rejuvenation. Yet it remained incomplete.
Using it now was a gamble. But he had no choice; nothing else could handle Sima Geon's arsenal.
Grinding his teeth, hellish flames surged from Yajeol Jae's sword.
"Let's end this!"
His blade moved at inconceivable speed.
Flames trailed it, cleaving the world asunder.
'Insane!'
Sima Geon instantly grasped the nature of the attack.
Creating something from nothing is arduous. But forging new from existing is no simple task either. Yet Yajeol Jae had done it.
He'd evolved the Blood Sea Demon Lord's arts far beyond their original form and compressed the forty-nine forms of Lightning Thunder Blood Sword into seven strikes.
A technique blending Radiant Flash with the essences of Wild Radiance and Blazing Radiance.
It was as if a massive fireball plummeted like thunder.
The world seemed engulfed in flames, everything ablaze—an illusion.
Sima Geon's face hardened gravely.
Cold reason screamed to evade, but instinct refused. Dodging wasn't an option anyway.
In that instant, Sima Geon recalled the final form of Single Heaven Nine Forms: Blazing Fire Annihilation.
Crimson sword aura, like the flames Yajeol Jae unleashed, erupted from the Heavenly Demon Sword.
Their energies collided head-on.
A groan escaped Sima Geon at the unprecedented force.
Blood already trickled from his mouth.
Thinking he'd blocked the peak of the assault, Sima Geon twisted and swung.
Flower Dance Overlap.
The Heavenly Demon Sword spawned countless variations.
Variations birthed more, pressing Yajeol Jae from all sides.
Yajeol Jae's face twisted faintly.
Sword auras filled the air, waves crashing from every direction—an overwhelming force that felt like it would tear him apart.
'Ha! Incredible.'
Emerging from seclusion reborn, his confidence had pierced the heavens. He thought himself unmatched.
It shattered in moments.
Under Sima Geon's barrage, Yajeol Jae glimpsed death unbidden. Yet his body moved on instinct.
Flames bloomed larger, denser from his sword.
They engulfed the blade, then his entire body.
Constricting sword auras clashed with colossal flames, igniting a final blaze.
The world filled with blinding sword auras and fire.
Auras collided in an instant, countless variations unfolding.
The aftermath swirled around them like a desert whirlwind, destroying everything in its path.
The ground cracked like an earthquake, dust pillars rising to the sky.
Most onlookers bowed their heads in terror. Some vomited blood and collapsed.
As if by agreement, heavy groans escaped both men.
Their figures emerged gradually from the dust.
Having poured every ounce into the exchange, both were battered wrecks.
Sima Geon, kneeling with the Heavenly Demon Sword as crutch, was drenched in blood, breathing raggedly. A short distance away, Yajeol Jae steadied his staggering body, spewing dark red blood from nose and mouth.
Sima Geon slowly rose, raising his sword straight. At the sight, Yajeol Jae ground his teeth.
He could squeeze out a few more clashes if forced. But the internal injuries from the collision were severe—fatal, needing a month's rest.
The problem: he couldn't gauge Sima Geon's state. Clearly wounded badly, yet that murderous aura was chilling.
In a brief moment, countless deliberations.
The Heavenly Demon Sword began to move. No time left.
"Gu Yang-gyeong!"
At Yajeol Jae's shout, Gu Yang-gyeong raced from the rear like the wind, scooping him up. Without hesitation, he fled.
"We'll meet again."
A declaration of defeat, laced with rage for the future.
Sima Geon halted, lacking the strength to pursue. But Neung Sohwa did not.
The moment Gu Yang-gyeong intervened, she'd already launched herself, closing the gap to threaten Yajeol Jae.
Warriors under Gu Yang-gyeong blocked her path.
Neung Sohwa sneered coldly and swung her sword. Their bodies exploded simultaneously.
Startled, she shielded herself with protective aura and whirled her sword like a windmill, deflecting flying flesh and bone shards.
Kwang! Kwang! Kwang!
The Blood Slaughter Cult warriors swarmed her like moths to flame, sacrificing themselves.
By the time Neung Sohwa blocked them all, Gu Yang-gyeong had vanished with Yajeol Jae, trace unseen.
"......"
Corpses torn beyond recognition, surroundings dyed red with blood. Having fended off the suicide attacks, Neung Sohwa stood frozen for a long while.