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Kyecheon Sect Leader got hit in the knee and fell backward.

In response, I clenched my fist to land another blow but—

“Tsk.”

Gu Yangcheong suddenly increased the distance, intending to continue his attack.

A sword brushed past my face.

Even while being hit, he tried to counterattack.

‘Wow, he’s tough.’

Even after taking such hits, he still retaliated. His regeneration ability was something else.

‘Looks like I’ll have to rip off his arm.’

But will he regenerate from that? I thought not; it was better to just completely remove the body part.

However—

Swoosh.

The incoming attacks were gradually escalating.

‘What do we have here?’

Despite continuously taking damage, the Kyecheon Sect Leader wasn’t going down, and seeing that made Gu Yangcheong ponder.

Is his willpower extraordinary? Or is his body slowly adapting?

If not that…

‘Am I the one getting exhausted?’

I became aware of the fatigue creeping into my body.

Pouring excessive energy into the swollen Blood Qi was causing me to tire out more quickly.

‘Hmm.’

Not good. It didn’t seem like I could fight for long.

‘Subduing him is going to be tough.’

If I could use flames, it might be different, but right now, that’s out of the question.

I just had to kill him one way or another.

[Grrr.]

The Kyecheon Sect Leader began to exert his strength, his movements growing increasingly aggressive.

I sensed a desperate determination to withstand.

It seemed like he was also pushing his limits. Observing that, Gu Yangcheong adjusted his breathing slightly.

‘Looks like he’s waiting for reinforcements.’

It appeared he was anticipating someone else.

Well, there wouldn’t be anyone else down here in this vast underground.

‘I did wipe everyone out, but….’

There must be more. That was a given. If reinforcements arrived now, what would happen?

‘That could be dangerous.’

Objectively speaking, it was true.

Nangong Bi-ah needed to take a break. With Wi Seol-Ah around, she could be of help, but…. The tide of battle would turn against us.

Yet, Gu Yangcheong didn’t worry too much, knowing that clearly.

‘Reinforcements? If they can come, bring it on.’

If there’s anyone who can come, that is.

It seemed they were already out of options.

So now, all I had to do was focus on the fight in front of me.

“SSSS-.”

I took a deep breath and twisted my waist.

Thump-! The energy in my heart spread throughout my body. Pain made my brow furrow.

Tua Pacheonmu.

With a powerful strike, I directly assaulted the Kyecheon Sect Leader. He hurriedly raised both hands to block—

Boom!!!

My fist connected with his hands, exploding in impact. He was pushed back.

[Ugh!!]

The Kyecheon Sect Leader managed to stop himself just in time, absorbing the shock with the tips of his toes.

Observing that, Gu Yangcheong tilted his head.

‘What’s going on?’

He seemed weaker than I expected.

I had channeled a considerable amount of energy into that blow, yet the impact was less than anticipated.

It was true that I was fatigued, but it didn’t correlate.

‘Could it be…’

What’s the issue? After a brief moment of thought, Gu Yangcheong narrowed his brow.

‘Is it the bet?’

Not the demon energy, but the bet.

I briefly reduced the demon energy to execute Tua Pacheonmu. Could that be causing the issue?

‘Hmm.’

I wasn’t certain. I needed to test that a bit more.

Stepping onto the ground to charge at the Kyecheon Sect Leader—

Thud-!

‘Huh?’

This time, the ground was the problem.

‘Crap.’

The ground felt off. I expected it to break as I made my move, but it remained steadfast without a tremor.

It was different from before.

Thankfully, I didn’t get tangled in my movement, but it was worrisome.

As I got closer, a sword flew at me. I crouched to avoid the blade.

With that, I drilled my fist into his abdomen.

[Ugh!]

It hit perfectly. The Kyecheon Sect Leader’s body lifted off the ground.

But….

Swoosh-!!!

Again, he counterattacked. Shredded locks of hair drifted through the air.

‘…I see.’

Only then did Gu Yangcheong gain understanding. This was definitely—

‘The bet isn’t working.’

It seemed the bet itself was the problem. Realizing this, I poured more demon energy into my strike.

I struck his left shoulder with intensity.

[Ugh!]

This time, it was different from before.

His face contorted in pain; the sensation of impact was entirely different.

Just as I had anticipated.

‘Demon energy works, while the bet registers less.’

It wasn’t completely ineffective, but it seemed significantly diminished.

‘And then…’

Smack.

I stomped the ground.

Unlike before, it shattered this time.

‘So this space is affected too?’

I didn’t know the principle behind it, but it seemed that the bet was the issue.

‘Tch.’

What a bothersome space. At least I knew that now.

Gu Yangcheong immediately dispelled all his energy and filled it with demon energy.

The hand-to-hand combat resumed. Though I called it hand-to-hand, the situation was the same.

It was violence.

Bang!

I swung to deflect the sword and seized the chance to strike.

Whenever he tried to create distance, I continued to pummel him. When he attempted to counter, I blocked and hit back.

I was smashing. I added more strength to obliterate his entire body.

Bang-! Bang bang-! Bang-!!

The sounds echoed with a heaviness that didn’t feel like mere punches.

It showcased how strong and brutal my approach was.

‘Disgusting.’

Despite the relentless strikes, Gu Yangcheong’s expression wasn’t pleasant at all.

To be honest, it was getting a bit tough.

‘He’s keeping up in speed.’

No matter how much I attacked and destroyed, he was too quick.

With only a basic attack available to me, there was nothing I could do.

At this rate, I would have to unleash my firepower, but since I couldn’t use fire techniques, Tua Pacheonmu was all I had.

‘But this is insufficient.’

While the demon energy could mix with any martial arts technique, I could do it if I wanted.

But Tua Pacheonmu alone wasn’t enough. The recoil was fierce, and I had no idea if Blood Qi could handle it.

In this case, all I could do was endure and keep attacking.

[…Huh… Heh heh.]

Suddenly, a laugh echoed from in front of me.

Seeing that, Gu Yangcheong continued to throw punches while asking,

“What’s so funny? Want to die?”

[Heh heh… It’s just amusing.]

Swish-! The sword moved.

Gu Yangcheong quickly leaned back; the blade narrowly missed him.

[Something felt off for a while…. Now I understand.]

Gu Yangcheong jumped high and created distance.

[You’re getting tired, aren’t you?]

“….”

At the Kyecheon Sect Leader’s words, Gu Yangcheong silently calmed his breath.

[Your punches are weakening. Though still thunderous, they’re not the same power they were just moments ago.]

Uh-oh, I’ve been found out. Gu Yangcheong ruefully chuckled.

[Moreover, it seems you haven’t been using your so-called fire techniques…. Something must be wrong.]

That old man’s sharp senses were something else. Gu Yangcheong relaxed his shoulders and bit his lower lip.

Yeah, it was about time he caught on.

[Indeed… Heaven is on my side.]

“Old man. If you keep talking nonsense, you won’t end pretty.”

I hid my heavy breaths.

How much time was left on the bet? I think about ten percent remained.

Was it because my main technique, fire techniques, was restricted? I had wasted too much unnecessary energy.

It was a totally tough situation.

Knowing that, Gu Yangcheong didn’t show a hint of it.

“What about it? So what?”

I couldn’t unleash flames.

His body was becoming steadily stronger, and if this turned into a long battle, I might lose.

But.

So what?

“That doesn’t mean you’ll win.”

[You’re trying to make a last-ditch effort? None of you, nor your girls, should have come here.]

“Bullshit.”

I steadied my breaths.

The problem was that while I was steadied, this bastard had recovered more.

If I could somehow restore my energy, I felt it could be possible…. What should I do? Gu Yangcheong kept thinking while speaking.

“I can see through your pathetic antics, pretending not to notice; there’s a limit to that as well.”

[Ha.]

The Kyecheon Sect Leader snickered.

[You knew all along?]

“Well, not everything. But I kind of caught a whiff of that foul smell from you. It smelled like the muck of desire clinging to you.”

[Don’t insult me…!]

The Kyecheon Sect Leader erupted in rage.

[You, who know nothing, dare to…! This is all for the sake of the heavens.]

“Those who fall into strange religions often say such things.”

For the sake of Heaven? These gentlemen didn’t know what they wanted at all.

It was a part I couldn’t understand.

‘But it seems it isn’t just some trivial thing about that body.’

The Kyecheon Sect Leader had transformed completely from the start. Whatever method was used, he had reached that state, and I couldn’t ignore it.

Despite Gu Yangcheong’s reactive expressions, the Kyecheon Sect Leader only spat out his words with fury.

[You don’t know. You don’t understand our dream of paradise. The treasures we prepared for it too.]

“Of course, there’s no way I’d know….”

Just as I intended to dismiss it with distaste.

“Paradise?”

Gu Yangcheong caught a peculiar word from the Kyecheon Sect Leader’s lips.

‘Paradise, huh?’

Paradise. It seemed like a beautiful word, but in Gu Yangcheong’s mind, it now sprouted sharp thorns.

It reminded him of something the Blood Demon had once said.

‘Was he dreaming of paradise too?’

Was that just a coincidence? An indescribable feeling swirled within him.

[The elders will come soon. When that happens, you’ll meet your end. You will never be allowed to leave.]

Seeing a glimpse of hope, the Kyecheon Sect Leader regained his confidence. Gu Yangcheong looked at him and asked.

“…Is that pathetic body of yours a great deed from your heavenly master?”

It was a probing question, but the Kyecheon Sect Leader was immediately triggered.

[Ha…. Even after witnessing the greatness of the Wishful Pearl, you still say such things. You haven’t realized reality yet?]

‘Wishful Pearl?’

Wishful… pearl?

Gu Yangcheong couldn’t help but furrow his brow at the Kyecheon Sect Leader’s words. He felt like he was starting to grasp something.

He then retrieved an item from his possession to show the Kyecheon Sect Leader.

[What are you doing…? Huh?]

The item he displayed was none other than an orb—a small, white orb roughly the size of a fist.

The Kyecheon Sect Leader’s eyes widened at the sight.

[You… How did you get that!]

“Is this what you meant by the Wishful Pearl?”

That was the item I obtained when I first arrived here and killed the burly old man.

As I gently displayed it, an unquenchable flame rose in the Kyecheon Sect Leader’s eyes.

[You—! Where did you get that!]

Feeling an overwhelming rage, the Kyecheon Sect Leader lunged at Gu Yangcheong.

Although he looked frighteningly deranged, Gu Yangcheong simply responded, “Hmm….”

Even in such a situation, he calmly gazed at the orb.

For now, even while observing it, he felt nothing.

‘Too risky to consume it, right?’

Though the Kyecheon Sect Leader’s comment seemed accurate, it was still an unknown item.

To consume something so dangerous was a gamble.

For now, I should solve the battle before anything else. Just as I finished that thought—

[W-Stop!]

The Kyecheon Sect Leader shouted in urgency, as if he finally noticed something.

“What do you want me to stop?—Gulp?”

His throat betrayed him and swallowed without his consent.

“Wait…?”

His eyes rolled as he looked down at his hand.

The orb he was just holding was gone.

His hand brushed across his chest.

And then he realized.

“…This insane.”

He could feel something entering him.

He had consumed the orb against his will.

 

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