Chapter 102
Chapter 102
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: Black Dragon (4)
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"From these chains, I will be free!"
The roar echoing from the peak of the mountain made Ouyang Jue take half a step back.
It was overwhelming. So wondrously powerful, it was impossible to believe it came from a human.
A mere shout, yet it was enough to shatter a person's spirit.
'So this is what it means to be a demon.'
Ouyang Jue glanced at the tense Omniscient One and gripped Severing Manifestation.
He happened to look at the back of his hand and saw that even the fine hairs were standing on end.
Feeling like a rabbit before a predator, Ouyang Jue let out a small chuckle.
Only then did the coiled tension within him seem to ease, if only slightly.
He had faced countless masters before, but this was the first time the thought of defeat had crossed his mind before the fight even began.
If he felt this way, how immense must the pressure be for the Omniscient One, a spellcaster?
Ouyang Jue tapped the shoulder of the completely frozen Omniscient One.
The true energy refined by the Purple Mist Divine Arts flowed from his hand, stimulating the Omniscient One's stiffened body.
"Omniscient One, it's time we head up."
"......!"
Barely regaining his senses, the Omniscient One gave him a bewildered look and fumbled inside his robes.
These were the talismans he had been preparing for the past two months for the fight against the Black Dragon.
As the Omniscient One's hands trembled while he secured the talismans inside his clothes, Ouyang Jue made a light joke.
"You've prepared quite a lot just to catch a single snake."
"A snake! This is the Black Dragon, the strongest of the Eight Evils!"
"Even a snake can't do much if you grab its head and twist, can it? It's nothing."
As Ouyang Jue briefly recounted a story of catching snakes on Mount Hua, the Omniscient One, his tension seemingly lessened, let out a few laughs.
They looked less like a party heading to fight the demonic beast Black Dragon and more like travelers on a leisurely trip to a famous mountain.
'My experience as a wanderer is coming in handy at times like this.'
Feeling the pressure radiating from the Black Dragon grow closer, Ouyang Jue quietly asked the Omniscient One.
"So, what's the plan to deal with him?"
"Do you perhaps know the history of Severing Manifestation...?"
Did they really have to get into a long-winded story at a time like this?
Ouyang Jue scowled, shaking off the pressure emanating from the Black Dragon.
"I know you're a scholar, but there's no more time for lessons!"
"......Severing Manifestation is a blade specialized in cutting down beings that possess spiritual energy, like divine beasts!"
At those words, Ouyang Jue's eyes narrowed.
"Then what about the smith!"
"He was a blacksmith from the Fire-Worshipping Sect, which was called the Demonic Cult long before the old one! There's no time for a long story!"
He had just heard some rather shocking information about the smith, but there was no time to process it.
Just as the Omniscient One said, the beast was upon them.
As Ouyang Jue caught his breath, the Omniscient One's voice came out strained with urgency.
"I'll handle support from the rear! You just hold the Black Dragon off and endure!"
Before Ouyang Jue could even reply.
Crash-!
Something slammed into Severing Manifestation. The impact alone made Ouyang Jue feel as if his feet had vanished.
'What is this... power...!'
An irresistible, monstrous strength.
Ouyang Jue's feet sank deep into the ground. His wrist bent back at an unnatural angle before snapping back into place.
Ouyang Jue let out a faint groan without realizing it.
"Khk!"
A sharp pain shot through his entire body, and the metallic taste of blood filled his mouth.
The shock he had failed to block completely had ravaged his insides.
Ouyang Jue forced himself to swallow the blood rising in his throat.
His earlier joke about a "mere snake" was now stuck in his throat. Ouyang Jue clenched his teeth, his jaw tightening.
The man in the Black Dragon mask sneered at the sight.
"Brat, you dare call this venerable one a snake?"
Ouyang Jue let out a hollow laugh.
"I take it back."
Despite his words, the Black Dragon showed no intention of accepting, swinging a thick leg.
Wham!
It was as fast and agile as an explosion of gunpowder. As if a single line were shooting toward him, Ouyang Jue unleashed all the strength in his body.
Clang! Grind!
Ouyang Jue's body was pushed back helplessly. The Black Dragon's power was no ordinary thing.
He was on a completely different level from any opponent he had ever faced, including those in his past life.
If he had hesitated even for an instant to parry, he would already be a crumpled mess on the ground.
'If I used the Moon-Stepping Shadowless Art, I might be able to contend with him in a battle of movement techniques, but...'
What would happen if the Black Dragon ignored him and charged at the Omniscient One?
Keeping several possibilities in mind, Ouyang Jue faced the Black Dragon once more.
Through the slits of the Black Dragon's mask, sinister eyes gleamed.
"I can see it... very clearly."
"......?"
"The sound of the gears turning in your head!"
The Black Dragon's eyes flashed as he unleashed a dark, murky internal energy.
Indeed, the monstrous strength he had displayed seemed to originate from this energy, which felt heavy and oppressive.
And yet, his speed hadn't diminished in the slightest.
Ouyang Jue realized that the Black Dragon's level of mastery was beyond imagination.
It was no wonder he was called a demon.
The aura radiating from the Black Dragon felt like it was crushing his entire body.
In truth, despite exchanging over ten blows, he hadn't gained the upper hand even once.
'It's been a while since I've felt this kind of tension.'
Ouyang Jue wiped the sweat from his brow.
'I've met plenty of masters, but when was the last time I fought a pure battle of life and death?'
In this life, from Bai Cheong-il at the very beginning to Yan Yang-gun, whom he fought recently.
They were by no means easy opponents. But none were foes he had to fight desperately with his life on the line.
And so, he had sometimes resorted to cowardly tactics.
But what about this time?
This was a powerful enemy he had encountered suddenly, with no chance to make the first move.
He was also someone he had never even known existed in his past life, strong enough to make the ever-composed Omniscient One anxious.
As he was now, just facing him was a struggle.
But what if it were the him from his past life?
A sudden curiosity struck Ouyang Jue, and he shook off the Black Dragon's claw-hand, retreating backward.
"Hey, where do you rank among the Eight Evils in terms of strength?"
The Black Dragon paused his assault for a moment and laughed, as if the question was absurd.
"Naturally, this venerable one is the strongest!"
"......Hah."
A pointless question. He wouldn't be called a demon without that kind of confidence.
Just as Ouyang Jue gripped Severing Manifestation again and was about to charge, a telepathic message came from the Omniscient One.
-You've bought enough time.
'That wasn't exactly my intention, but...'
Ouyang Jue gave a slight nod, and something slapped onto his back.
At the same time, strength surged through his body, and his vitality seemed to soar to the heavens.
Clang!
Once again, the path of the Plum Blossom Sword clashed with the Black Dragon's overwhelming power. But this time, the result was different.
"......!"
He wasn't completely unshaken, but he was holding his ground, the fight now more or less even.
Ouyang Jue pushed the Black Dragon back, channeling his Purple Mist true energy into the Diamond Fist-Seal Armor. Still, he felt a bit uneasy.
-No need to be flustered.
As if sensing his thoughts, the Omniscient One calmly prepared his next talisman and sent another message.
-One-on-one, you would surely be overwhelmed, but with my help, you won't get crushed like a dried-up frog.
-Hilarious.
He hadn't shown all his cards yet. Ouyang Jue swung Severing Manifestation in a straight line, infusing it with the fiery energy of the Diamond Fist-Seal Armor.
The fiery energy coated the straight slash of sword qi, forming a cross. The Black Dragon scoffed at the sight.
"What a useless trick!"
"Is that so?"
Ouyang Jue hid his heightened focus behind a nonchalant tone.
At first, he had been so bewildered that he let his emotions show, but now he intended to provoke the Black Dragon and make his attacks predictable.
But soon, Ouyang Jue's eyebrow twitched.
Rip!
Even the two manifested streams of sword qi were torn apart as if they were mere paper.
Then, the Black Dragon's form seemed to stretch out before he leaped over twenty feet.
Crack!
It was just a simple headbutt, yet Ouyang Jue felt his entire body bend.
Indeed, several of his ribs had fractured. A warm sensation sloshed inside him as blood pooled in his organs.
"......Ugh."
Ouyang Jue forced his expression to remain calm.
'If the Omniscient One sees I'm in trouble and loses his composure, it'll be even more dangerous.'
Ouyang Jue suppressed his screams and pain, calmly unfolding the Plum Blossom Sword Arts.
"Plum Amidst Green Bamboo, Plum Blossoms Begin to Bloom, Plum Blossoms Bloom Twice..."
As Ouyang Jue's murmurs continued, the Black Dragon found it hard to hide his irritation.
It was incredibly annoying that this kid, not even twenty years old, who only had an amount of internal energy ill-suited for his body, was standing against him.
Furthermore, the Omniscient One, aiding from a distance with his talismans, was a major nuisance. The very reason he was bound to Mount Mo was because of that lineage, just like the Omniscient One.
Among the Eight Evils, only the Black Dragon was bound to a single place.
Fwoosh!
A crimson light erupted in the Black Dragon's eyes. It wasn't something that could be described as a mere aura or spirit; it was a tangible, manifested power.
Ouyang Jue immediately withdrew twenty percent of the Purple Mist true energy he was using for the Plum Blossom Sword Arts and redistributed it between his Lightning-Flashing Eyes and his protective aura.
The Black Dragon smiled.
"You fool! You've finally fallen for it!"
"......?!"
While Ouyang Jue faltered for a moment, a terrifying storm of wind erupted from the Black Dragon's hand.
Rumble!
He then raised his left palm and brought it crashing down.
It was an attack so simple it couldn't be considered a martial art, nor even a mere technique.
But the Black Dragon always preferred to attack this way. He focused on making his movements fast and short.
Even if his fellow Eight Evils mocked him for it, none would ever doubt its power.
No matter how strong Ouyang Jue was, he couldn't possibly block this. The Black Dragon believed victory was his.
"This is the Black Dragon's Hammer!"
Whoooosh!
The wind screamed, and for a moment, his head felt heavy. The power the Black Dragon unleashed was enough to bring the giant Pangu to mind.
"......!"
Ouyang Jue instantly envisioned his head being crushed. Even if he focused nearly a full cycle of internal energy into a single point, parrying that blow was impossible.
One Strike to Topple a Mountain.
Even if he dodged it, the ground itself would shake. His balance would inevitably be broken.
Could he block the attack that would follow?
Ouyang Jue shook his head.
'It's useless to hesitate now. I didn't come all this way just to find another excuse.'
Therefore, Ouyang Jue deliberately erased the thought of finding another way. He focused his entire mind on the Black Dragon before him.
Just then, a telepathic message came from the Omniscient One.
-I can block it once! Find a way out in that time!
Though it was merely a voice formed from qi, the Omniscient One's message was practically a scream. It seemed even he was anticipating Ouyang Jue's death.
'Sorry, but I'm not that weak.'
Ouyang Jue wanted to prove it.
In his past life, he had to watch helplessly as the Omniscient One died, knowing nothing. He wanted to show that things were different now.
'Though, in the end, it's just for my own satisfaction.'
Ouyang Jue's eyes flew open.
He knew that the Omniscient One of today was different from the friend he knew in his past life. But his essence was the same. He had felt it when they met.
A friend with a strange personality, but just as kind. An old man who, despite his age, loved sweet things like bamboo leaf liquor and tanghulu.
Swish!
A bundle of talismans thrown by the Omniscient One formed a circular formation, blocking the Black Dragon's strike.
But as if such a miracle could only happen once, the talismans crackled and sizzled before burning away completely. Not even ash remained as they were utterly incinerated.
In that brief moment, Ouyang Jue had assumed a straight, formal stance, waiting for the Black Dragon.
Seeing this, the Black Dragon sneered.
"Do you dare to meet my attack head-on?"
"There's no reason I can't."
As Ouyang Jue answered, a trickle of blood ran from the corner of his mouth.
The Black Dragon laughed even louder.
"Very well! For the sake of that spirit, I'll grant you a painless death!"
In an instant, the Black Dragon threw a straight punch.
Booooom!
An overwhelming force that no one could possibly counter was unleashed.
The Omniscient One's face turned deathly pale, as if even he knew he couldn't block that.
Amidst it all, Ouyang Jue's lips slowly parted.
"Heavenly Escape Sword Arts."