Chapter: 419
Kuuwung-! With a heavy roar, the giant body flies into the air.
“Ugh!”
Dangdeok groaned and strained to maintain his posture as he landed on the ground.
After that, he surveyed the area straight ahead with a puzzled expression.
Seeing that, Dangdeok’s eyes widened in surprise. He also looked around; something felt strangely off.
The small and large stars that had been floating in the sky vanished without a trace.
As the brightly shining stars disappeared, a desolate darkness enveloped the forest.
It was quiet.
All the insects that had been making noise without realizing it held their breath.
Dangdeok was jolted by the silence that had suddenly come.
He instinctively sensed how dangerous this silence was.
‘What is this?’
He quickly realized that this was an artificially created situation.
Confirming what had happened was necessary.
First and foremost.
‘I’ll tear it apart with force.’
Just as Dangdeok was about to swing his spear with all his might…
“…!”
He immediately sensed something unusual.
‘It’s heavy.’
Moving his body felt like a slog. It was also a bit uncomfortable to exert force.
Is this due to the unknown energy surrounding him?
Bam!
Dangdeok grit his teeth and swung his spear with all his strength.
No matter how restricted his body was, his power was not weak.
Hooow-!
The spear’s tip, filled with energy, was swung violently, bursting out in sharp forms in all directions.
Kkwaddeuk- The trees that made up the terrain were visibly sliced off in chunks.
Even amid all this, Dangdeok’s eyes darted around quickly.
He had to find something.
He was looking for the one who created this situation
‘Where are you? Where the heck are you?’
Although he tried to locate the culprit, in reality, there was no need for that.
The opponent had shown no signs of wanting to hide in the first place.
It was right there.
Hururuk…
On the other side, in the thick darkness, a black flame burned alone.
An ominous, massive presence announced its existence.
‘Ha.’
Dangdeok couldn’t help but chuckle bitterly at the sight of the flames. How absurd.
‘They say it’s an incredible entity. Could that actually be true?’
How could this possibly be the aura of someone who hasn’t even reached their twenties yet?
With his hands folded behind his back, engulfed in black flames, Gu Yangcheon’s figure watching Dangdeok was anything but small.
Although it was a black flame, it emitted a dazzling light like any other flame.
However, no matter how glamorous it appeared, the ominousness within was far from sacred.
Why was he emitting such flames?
It was just fire, yet Dangdeok wondered if he was instinctively feeling fear.
Moreover, a difference from the first time he saw it was that the black pupils now glowed purple.
The whites of his eyes, once white, had turned black.
‘…What the heck.’
That strange appearance and presence made one tremble at just the sight of it.
What on earth was that entity?
‘Heavenly Demon, huh.’
That’s what Soyeomra casually said about her true identity.
Heavenly Demon (天魔). Does that mean a devil sent from heaven?
It certainly didn’t seem like a nickname, so why did Soyeomra drop that line about herself?
Meanwhile, Dangdeok found that phrase suited Soyeomra perfectly.
Just looking at that presence was no different than facing a devil.
The thought crossed Dangdeok’s mind.
For some unexplained reason, a word kept ringing in his head.
The existence that Dangbi-seong had longed for so desperately.
The Thousand Body Form.
The overwhelming talent of the youngest Hwa-kyung. The spirit of someone who isn’t intimidated by enemies and the presence that overwhelms them.
If that’s not the bizarre talent Dangbi-seong puffed out over, then what is it?
Snap.
Dangdeok had to grit his teeth at that thought.
Unknowingly, he found himself thinking, ‘If I were like that guy, would I have been abandoned?’
He had a purpose of annihilating the Sichuan Tang Clan, even if it meant tearing them apart.
Until the Tang name no longer existed in this world. That had been Dangdeok’s goal.
Are you saying there’s still regret lingering in him?
‘Get a grip.’
Dangdeok focused his gaze and aimed the tip of his spear at the flame.
‘I’ll kill them all.’
It didn’t matter if that guy was a devil or a heavenly being.
Also, how he found out didn’t matter either.
The only thing that mattered was that he was just a hurdle in the way of his revenge.
If anything got in his way, he would smash right through it.
That was the strength he had developed for that purpose.
Thud-!
The spearhead sliced through the air.
The energy wrapped around it gradually took on a greenish hue.
This light had nothing to do with poison.
It was merely a reminder of the Tang family’s presence lingering in Dangdeok’s body.
A spear infused with such energy shot out, creating elegant curves.
Giryongmujeongchang (氣龍武正槍).
This was the most fundamental spear technique utilized by the Murim Alliance.
It was the easiest martial art to find and learn among spear techniques.
This was the only martial art that Dangdeok had learned. A spear technique he had to master to survive.
Having only this, he had no choice but to hone his skills relentlessly.
Eventually, he reached Hwa-kyung with this technique.
He attained the level of Hwa-kyung as an artisan struggling to advance in cultivation.
This served as evidence of how outstanding Dangdeok’s physique was.
Gu Yangcheon, watching from the sidelines, finally began to move his body.
Bang-!
“…!”
He struck the approaching spear with his fist, altering its path. He dove in without hesitation with brutal motions.
Dangdeok was momentarily taken aback but quickly pivoted and corrected the path he had just evaded.
A fleeting moment was created in that instant.
Gu Yangcheon, not wanting to let it slip away, advanced into Dangdeok’s reach, extending his fist.
With Black Salt Burst.
A wolf-shaped flame erupted from his fingertips towards Dangdeok.
Kwaaaaaaaah-!
An overpowering blaze erupted straight ahead, covering a wide area with flames.
In an instant, it turned into a fiery chaos, but Gu Yangcheon’s gaze shifted not forward but to the side.
He spread his palms.
Heat immediately condensed into a handful.
The gradually condensed warmth morphed into a spherical shape.
It was reminiscent of the jade he had used before, but this one was black in color, distinctly shaped, and pulsated with a subtle vibration.
Spin.
Gu Yangcheon clung to the teachings his father had imparted.
Indeed, by focusing on the concept of rotation, he felt the power of his martial arts strengthen slightly.
Recalling this, Gu Yangcheon fixed his gaze straight ahead.
The front, still engulfed in black flames, didn’t seem to conceal Dangdeok.
In contrast to his massive size, he quickly dodged the attack.
Where did he vanish? Gu Yangcheon didn’t waste time fretting.
If he couldn’t find him, he’d just destroy everything he anticipated.
Gu Yangcheon clenched the jade that had formed in his palm, throwing it down without hesitation.
Woof-! The jade hit the ground, emitting a short vibration.
Guaaa…
It began to unleash a tremendous heat, sweeping away anything in the vicinity.
While the black flame erupted simultaneously, the explosive wind pressure spiraled ferociously.
Nearby trees were uprooted and swept away by the swirling gusts.
In an instant, they were typically engulfed by flames, falling to char moments later.
Once the initial explosion subsided, the brief storm halted its whirl.
Gu Yangcheon took a moment to survey his surroundings, standing still.
Everything outside his immediate position had turned to scorched earth.
And not far away, a giant wielding a spear could be seen on one knee, gazing up at Gu Yangcheon.
“Phew… phew…”
Dangdeok had his self-defense technique activated, so it seems he didn’t suffer extensive damage.
Judging by his ragged breathing, he was definitely not untouched.
Gu Yangcheon was quite taken aback by this revelation.
‘Just as I feared.’
His level was indeed lower than the Black Dragon Sword.
Yet, his resistance to magic was superior to that of the Black Dragon Sword.
Gu Yangcheon believed this had to do with the demon blood coursing through him. That seemed accurate enough.
‘Hmm.’
It’s problematic.
If he had a resistance to magic, it could complicate matters later when corrupting him into a demon.
That would be quite troublesome indeed.
Moreover, he could also tell that Dangdeok’s movements were gradually speeding up.
Was he perhaps starting to get used to it?
‘Is it my magic?’
With this thought, Gu Yangcheon stirred the magic within his body.
As a result, the magic within Dangdeok’s dantian abruptly thrashed and started causing chaos.
Did he truly sense the energy? He felt that Dangdeok’s essence was trying to counter it.
Seeing that, it appeared that his prediction was accurate.
It wasn’t just Gu Yangcheon who felt the peculiar energy; Dangdeok, who had been kneeling, rose to his feet, rubbing his stomach.
Pick, gradually feeling more at ease. The corners of Dangdeok’s mouth curled upward as he spoke.
“It doesn’t seem to be poison.”
“Why do you think that?”
“If it were poison, I wouldn’t recover so easily.”
Since Dangdeok had no resistance to poison, had it been poison instead of magic, it would have been potentially lethal.
He never expected that demon blood could enable such recovery.
“I’ll give you props. Soyeomra.”
“…What?”
“You’re remarkable. It’s astonishing you possess such power at your age…”
“What’s the main point?”
Dangdeok smirked fiercely at the question.
“I gathered enough just now. But you’re still weak. At least weaker than me.”
“…*”
Whoosh-! He swirled his spear briefly, unleashing wind pressure that dispersed the surrounding black flames.
It was only right to admit it.
From the very start, he had known that Gu Yangcheon was weaker than him.
As magic began to lose its effectiveness, it became a critical moment for Gu Yangcheon.
He could pour out more magic if he wanted, but that would also come with a different burden.
A martial artist of Gu Yangcheon’s caliber would require quite a bit of energy, and Dangdeok had to exert even more energy, leaving their combat increasingly strenuous as time went on.
Gu Yangcheon was aware of this.
“I told you, don’t get too full of yourself. Little brat, are you begging now?”
Dangdeok was also aware.
Initially, he appeared flustered and burst into anger, but upon realizing the situation, he quickly adopted a more confident demeanor.
The odds had begun to tilt in his favor.
Having confirmed that, Gu Yangcheon exhaled lightly.
It was a precarious situation, so it certainly felt like a crisis.
For some reason, though, he felt neither worried nor emotionally shaken.
He merely found himself feeling a bit remorseful.
‘This approach isn’t working.’
He recognized that his fighting style was ineffective.
Then, what about a different method?
Reflecting on that, he decreased the size of the Nine Flame Wheel.
“Hmm?”
Dangdeok couldn’t help but smile at the gradually diminishing flames of Gu Yangcheon.
“What’s this? Giving up…!”
Just as he was about to mock it, Dangdeok lifted his spear again, regaining his momentum.
Something felt distinctly different this time around.
‘What is it?’
What he felt earlier remains the same.
It still felt ominous and the massive presence was undeniable.
Yet, something seemed to cover it. No, better to say that it was supported from below?
Unsure of what was happening, what was certain was that something was definitely changing.
Duk duk.
Observing Dangdeok grasping for understanding, Gu Yangcheon slightly moved his body, almost as if loosening up.
‘That hurts.’
He believed things were better, yet the discomfort remained staggering.
Now, Gu Yangcheon had unleashed another piece of new energy.
He filled his heart with magic.
Surrounding his body with the Gu Flame Wheel technique.
And overlaying his entire being with the Essence of the Tuapacheonmu.
The visage of the Master who had sternly warned against using it in a real fight floated through his head, but Gu Yangcheon decided to momentarily cast it aside.
Doing this was unbelievably painful.
That was the first impression.
Yet, because it was such a sensation lingering on him for the past few months, he found a strange sense of comfort.
Did he grow accustomed to the pain?
Or perhaps he got familiar with the energy?
What it was, he couldn’t say, but either way, it felt relieving.
‘Is it possible to use three at once?’
This was why he began to move his body incrementally.
He had used up to two energies before, but he’d never used three concurrently, which left him concerned about possible limits. Yet, against all odds,
There didn’t seem to be any issues so far.
The only change was that an unknown energy had begun to simmer inwardly.
Gu Yangcheon observed Dangdeok in front of him.
Dangdeok appeared to notice the aura of the Tuapacheonmu, watching intently.
‘Sharp instincts, indeed.’
It must have been an imperceptible change, yet he picked it up and tensed up. Gu Yangcheon contemplated taking a step forward.
His body was heated, but his mind was cooling down.
The energy emerging from him took on a colorless hue, yet his vision remained coldly precise.
Why was there such a change?
Could it also be the effect of the Tuapacheonmu?
Somehow, he thought not.
‘Whatever it may be, it’s irrelevant.’
For now, he had to take his focus off those thoughts and concentrate on the opponent before him.
Dangdeok kept a wary eye on Gu Yangcheon, who was approaching slowly.
His movements looked full of gaps, and it was uncertain what he’d do.
The strange alien sensation continued to gnaw at his instincts.
‘What is it?’
What shocking scene would he witness this time around?
That bizarre demeanor and energy felt strange enough, yet something else had been thrown into the mix.
At the moment Dangdeok swallowed his confusion about the incomprehensible change.
Gu Yangcheon vanished from his vision.
“…!”
Dangdeok sprang into motion.
The spear was swung.
Dangdeok hadn’t caught sight of Gu Yangcheon, but he sensed his presence.
The sensation was undoubtedly to the side…
Thwoomp-!
“Ugh!?”
Though the sound came from the side, Dangdeok let out a groan as a fist bashed into his abdomen.
What was going on? Vibration pulsated throughout his body. Thankfully, this was within tolerable limits.
Dangdeok maintained his form as he continued to launch his spear technique.
Thud-!
Just as Dangdeok’s action was about to unfold, Gu Yangcheon reached out to alter the spear technique’s trajectory.
The difference was slight, yet the outcome was significant.
Woosh-!
The moment that micro-difference emerged, the energy flowing through his body dissolved.
With that, a gap emerged as the movement remained unfinished.
“No way!”
This was absurd…!
Dangdeok instantly attempted to put distance between himself and Gu Yangcheon, letting out a cry.
Thud.
But Gu Yangcheon beat him to it.
A small fist, dwarfed in comparison to Dangdeok’s gargantuan frame, touched his chest.
It felt light.
He merely placed a fist against his body. Nonetheless, Dangdeok knew.
He realized something was happening at the tip of that tiny fist.
Woohooo…
Initially, it was merely a subtle ripple.
A diminutive wave seeped into Dangdeok’s body, merging beautifully with the flames at the tip of the fist.
The wave was gentle and soothing, as if to promise it wouldn’t inflict any harm.
But, that was only for a fleeting moment.
As Dangdeok moved a little bit away, the wave surrendered its true form right away.
Gggg…! Kkwakakaka-!
“Gaaahhh!”
The vibration, growing massive in an instant, turned Dangdeok’s insides upside down.
Within that vibration was an unidentifiable heat, compounding the agony.
Boom boom boom boom-!
Within one second, dozens of violent waves burst out, and the waves could no longer tolerate being trapped in his tight form, exploding out of Dangdeok’s body.
Kwaaaaaaaah-!
The energy that erupted from Dangdeok assaulted the wilderness behind him.
The heat-laden wind pressure surged forth chaotically, etching a notable mark on the ground behind Dangdeok.
Then the shockwave from the waves dwindled, and the deafening roar diminished.
Thud…
Dangdeok knelt down.
His eyes rolled back, a clear sign that he had lost consciousness.
And then.
The gigantic frame collapsed slowly on the ground.
Thud-!
Soon after Dangdeok lost consciousness and fell…
“…Cough.”
Gu Yangcheon, too, spat out blood as if he’d been waiting for that moment.
Thud! Blood splattered on the ground.
The first strike of the Tuapacheonmu’s martial arts.
The repercussions of using the Touamuquan (Fighting Without Fists) were closing in.
His mind felt hazy.
Due to the recoil, his chi and blood became distorted, and his energy began moving wildly.
‘This…’
It felt like he could collapse at any given moment.
Since the energy had clearly gone awry, he could count on the Tuapacheonmu to resolve it, but losing consciousness right now was unacceptable.
Because Dangdeok wasn’t dead yet.
Though his insides were likely in disarray, he was not deceased.
If Dangdeok regained consciousness before him, that would spell trouble for Gu Yangcheon.
Just then, as he struggled to maintain his awareness amidst the onslaught of pain, Gu Yangcheon finally reached his limit.
At last, when he was about to lose his grip on consciousness and plummet to the ground.
Thud.
Suddenly, someone arrived and steadied him, preventing him from collapsing.
“Ha…”
The one who supported him sighed deeply, sounding utterly displeased, then murmured mixed with lament and resignation.
“I took on a disciple in my later years. Just what a madman he is… Tsk tsk.”
It was the Master.
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