Chapter 63
**
I met Seo Cho-hee.
She who came to me, claiming she could do nothing on her own.
“So… so…”
The foundation of courage that rushed through the corpses was an unfamiliar soul.
Arriving after being mauled by a living corpse, she gasped as she spoke.
“…Bi Musan-nim… Please… this isn’t right…?”
Her last words proved everything. Most within the Demon Cult revered power.
…But there were also those who did not.
If a person only moved by strength, how could they still be called a person? Each of us has a soul. We have our desires and lines we draw that we cannot accept.
Eun Seol-ran was one such person.
Baekmae was another.
Smaak was yet another.
…And that was true for me as well.
“…….”
I looked down at Yeon Guang. The sight of his body torn apart, blood flowing everywhere.
It was nothing but rags. Unlike me, that body with no connection to Cheongeop raced toward death.
The difference in realm was stark; it probably lunged forward without understanding either.
It tried to prove that with every shred of its being. That struggle was something I had seen somewhere before.
“I didn’t draw my sword to beg for my life… It’s the Soul Stealing Sword…!”
…The footprints I had once extended.
Knowing what that meant, I turned around. I drew my sword and grasped it with my heart.
“Senpai.”
“Uh, uh?”
“Please take care of Yeon Guang.”
Jin Wi-lyang was gasping. He couldn’t even hide the breath caught in his throat as he shouted.
“This is…! This is bullshit! It’s not fair! It’s not fair! I exhausted my energy with that guy in our duel! I had no reason to go this far!”
“…….”
“Act like a member of the Demon Cult! Don’t get swept away by personal feelings and stay true to the way…!”
He took another step forward.
Cracks appeared on Jin Wi-lyang’s expression. He hurriedly looked somewhere else.
“No, you must be a master settled in Fengma Cave! This can’t be happening?! A knife fight within the Fengma Cave! This must be stopped…!”
“Do you think you’re the only one around who’s clueless like a thunderous buffoon?”
The old man I met in the blacksmith shop.
Master Guigok Yajang, Cheol Il-hwan, answered lazily.
“Go ahead and fight if you want. I won’t intervene or join sides. I won’t get involved whether you bleed or not. Plus, your words… aren’t they a bit too self-serving?”
“What do you mean…?!”
“I heard you were the one who drew your sword. You said you tried to suppress it with strength. If I had just heard about it, I’d have half-doubted you, but seeing a half-dead guy in front of me, the situation seems clear. The one who drew their sword first against a lower-ranking opponent shouldn’t have anything to say, should they?”
“The main cult reveres strength! Why should I listen to someone weaker than me in such a place…!”
“Right. You spoke well.”
Master Guigok Yajang, Cheol Il-hwan nodded slightly.
“Isn’t what you’re saying the same as that guy? If you dislike it, just prove it. That you’re stronger than him. You gathered those who cannot understand each other, so in the end, it went as you wished. Strength. The one ideology that pierces through the main cult. You’ve interpreted it your way, and so there’s no reason for that guy not to interpret it his way.”
“W-What nonsensical…?!”
He took another step forward.
Urgency marked Jin Wi-lyang’s face.
“Let’s set another date! I’m not trying to avoid a duel!”
“…….”
“If I win in this state, what will you gain?! If you touch me now, it’s the same as touching the entire Shinwon Jin Clan! You dumbass!”
“…….”
“Think of the future! If you don’t, the sword you drew will stab your own neck…!”
I aimed the raised sword straight ahead.
Jin Wi-lyang, realizing there was no room for talk, hurriedly raised his sword.
“What the hell…?!”
He swallowed the words he couldn’t spit out. Instead, he recreated the blow that had once shattered Yeon Guang.
Pieces of energy flowed along the sword. They moved erratically, forming a strange current.
It was not simply sharp; the sword itself would break on impact.
A collection of overwhelming violence, almost indistinguishable from it.
“I’ll crush youuu!!”
He lunged forward, seemingly trying to hide his own anxiety. Sparkles like stars hung above him.
Peak stage. My first real battle after reaching this state.
Drawing upon the Nine Heavens Blood Demon Technique with every breath. I infused Ghostly Spirit Step into each step.
Though my realm had risen and my vision changed, my overall approach remained the same.
The ultimate roughness. Simple movements based on the basics.
**Nine Heavens Blood Demon Technique**
**Second Form**
**Dan Hoon Choo**
I extended my sword.
—Ka-ka-ka-ka-ka-ka-kak!!!!
A chilling sound echoed from my fingertips. My hands vibrated as if they could fall off at any moment.
I felt the oppressive energy tightening around my neck. The sword energy I ignited was mercilessly devoured in an instant.
It seemed like Jin Wi-lyang got a rush of confidence. He was smiling right in front of me. I heard the burning eyes murmured.
“Not much different than I thought.”
His anxiety was nothing but a simple worry.
“Yap! You talk too much!”
The incoming strikes were shockingly surprising. Each sword tip formed beautiful trajectories, pressuring from all directions.
A collision. And then a shake.
It made my steps precarious, as if walking on a thin layer of ice. The trembling of swirling energy resonated against my skin.
…Thus.
Thus, I found it even more incomprehensible. How could this be happening, and in such a state, my rising anger was almost extinguished.
“…….?”
I swung the sword clinging to me, digging deeper.
**Nine Heavens Blood Demon Technique**
**First Form**
**Ilma – Magic Horn**
I kicked the exposed abdomen with a spinning motion.
—Thud!
“Ugh?!”
I merely watched the fool from the Shinwon Jin Clan roll away. I didn’t chase after him rashly.
It was strange. This shouldn’t be happening. It’s far… far inadequate…
“…You. What are you doing right now?”
“What nonsense…?”
“Why aren’t you giving it your all?”
In this situation, to be relaxed enough to have a lot left….?
Jin Wi-lyang blinked. He exploded in rage as if he had heard something absurd.
“What the hell! What does some peak stage know about anything?!”
What do I know?
Well…
When I see an idiot who can only use brute force, don’t you think everyone would say the same thing?
The sways on his sword were excessive. His lower half lacked strength, and the body couldn’t keep up with the swinging power, making him wobble.
Moreover, what’s more, his footwork was also lacking. If the basics didn’t support him, the energy he should concentrate on would be dispersed.
The sword tips that once occupied all directions had gaps and couldn’t defend against anything.
A blade that couldn’t do anything right.
This is… the late-generation mark of the Shinwon Jin Clan…?
“…If you have a hidden card, bring it out. Right now.”
“W-What nonsense are you spouting?! What are you talking about?!”
None?
…Really none?
He seemed caught off guard by the idea that he might not be lying.
Eun Seol-ran had said.
“Bi Cheon. Are you not misunderstanding something?”
“…Eh?”
“Not everyone in the world is like you. On the contrary, that side is ‘normal.’”
Normal.
…Is that? That unfinished blade?
“Hardly anyone polishes their sword to the extreme like you do. If we just look at the completion state of the Nine Heavens Blood Demon Technique… you’re a step above me. It’s an era where Qi mastery is emphasized. If the realm is different, it can simply suppress through strength.”
I clenched my hand. I lightly wrapped my fingers around the sword.
Things I thought were supposed to be obvious started to feel a bit off. Isn’t it normal for a martial artist to sharpen their blade?
…Then the author was just complacent, thinking they got to that position out of sheer talent…
Isn’t it saying they were lazy about honing their skills?
“…Ha.”
Once I realized the situation, the swirling emotions grew calm.
It wasn’t that my anger had extinguished. It had simply sharpened.
With a mere sword not even up to this point…
Was I trampling over the strengths of those without power, captured by greed?
“…Peak stage?”
What meaning does a shell-only peak stage hold?
I moved my foot again. A flabbergasted Jin Wi-lyang thrust his sword out once more.
The same violent sword. At its tip, shining energy glimmered.
It collided with my sword energy.
I didn’t even need to draw out my energy. Just by adding a bit more of my internal energy, my sword energy could withstand it.
“W-What?! This is nonsensical…?!”
Energy. Right.
If it had been a perfect energy like the Soul Stealing Sword, I too would have to change my course.
But the power Jin Wi-lyang had was only half-baked. The foolishness of a genius who believed solely in their talent, neglecting the honing of their sword.
I cast aside the onslaught.
In an instant, I shattered and scattered it everywhere.
“Gahhhh!!!”
As he was cut by the fragments of broken energy, Jin Wi-lyang screamed. He had only been shallowly poked once on the shoulder, yet he trembled in pain.
I couldn’t understand it. That’s why it angered me even more.
I deflected his hastily thrust sword and crushed his reasoning right in front of my eyes.
Without giving him a chance.
Thoroughly.
“A-A, no…! This can’t be happening…! My, my Heavenly Sword…!”
The whirlpool of energy rushed before my eyes.
It fractured within.
“I’m a renowned genius! What I possess is an area none can look up to…!”
The itsy bitsy sword tip bent before me. A sword stretched out from an impossible angle.
I stomped and slapped it away.
“A member of the Demon Cult! A mere mutt of unknown origin…!”
I saw the gathering of internal energy. The guy who had sharpened his blade concentrated his power and swung it.
I crushed and burst it.
“W-Wait…! Just a moment…!”
I took steady steps forward.
“Y-You can’t…”
I tore apart everything in front of me.
“…Ah… ah…”
A scream escaped him as he could no longer endure it. The panting Jin Wi-lyang, having exhausted all his sword tips, was now retreating. The realization that all his maneuvers had been defeated by mere ‘sword energy’ reflected fear on his face.
“You, you… What are you… What on earth…?”
“……”
“D-Don’t… don’t do this! Why?! Why is this happening… I haven’t even touched you…”
“……”
“What do you gain from this…! No, you… even if you try…”
He grasped the sword tightly, panting.
“Nothing will come from this! You bastard!!!”
The sword flashed. The blade cut through the air, howling out its last gasp of energy.
I heard that tremor. Choosing to step closer rather than retreat, I firmly planted my feet on the ground.
One breath.
One sword stroke.
I dodged the sword that barely missed me and turned my body.
**Nine Heavens Blood Demon Technique**
**Second Form**
**Dan Hoon Choo – Grave Mist**
The fiery Nine Heavens Blood Demon Technique surged forth. The sword lunged forward like a beast, exposing its vicious claws.
Crimson energy engulfed the surroundings. Amid the pouring chaos, I whispered.
“There’s nothing to gain, huh?”
Breaking apart the overshooting treasure, consuming the energy…
The energy storm swirling in front of me was completely shattered.
“That line of thought belongs to you alone, Jin Wi-lyang.”
—Thud.
The sound of something hitting the ground. I lowered the sword I had extended.
Jin Wi-lyang, realizing the situation late, trembled and looked to the side.
“…Ah…”
He cried out, looking at the severed right arm.
“Gahhhhhhhh!!!!”
