Chapter 855
Chapter 7: The Heart Sword
“Heart Sword… Sword Mastery. A concept so profound that only a handful of martial artists who reach the Transformation Realm can comprehend it.”
The ultimate dream of every swordsman is to achieve the Divine Sword Unity, to become one with the sword. It is an absolute power granted only upon reaching that pinnacle.
“Y-you…”
The Gyecheon Sect Leader clutched his chest, groaning.
He was cut—blood seeped out, staining his martial robe completely.
What was the source of the cut? Sword Intent? No.
The Gyecheon Sect Leader was also a master of high-level swordsmanship. He knew precisely what had struck him.
“How could you use the Heart Sword…!”
This was indeed the Heart Sword. There was no doubt he had been hit by it.
Otherwise, such a sensation would be impossible.
“Cough.”
Blood spilled from his mouth onto the ground.
His wound was deep. Had he not made the judgement to evade in that moment, he might have died on the spot.
“…Ugh…”
The Gyecheon Sect Leader, groaning in pain, looked forward.
He gazed at the wretched girl responsible for this.
Swords lay scattered on the floor, though even with Sword Intent infused, they remained embedded in the ground. This space was impervious to destruction.
Yet, the attack had landed; it hadn’t been without impact. As a result, the other party was in poor condition as well.
Blood flowed from the torn martial robe, and the blood starting from his forehead stained his pale neck.
It seemed she had sacrificed defense for the sake of attack.
Perhaps, despite her situation, she was still standing.
“Ah… are you laughing?”
She smiled brightly, as if finding joy in the current predicament.
“Ha ha…”
The Gyecheon Sect Leader let out a hollow chuckle at that sight.
“You truly are madness incarnate.”
It was a battle where lives hung in the balance; and here she was, delighting in it against someone of his higher realm.
He couldn’t be sane. A fleeting sense of fear crossed the Gyecheon Sect Leader’s mind.
Yet, he brushed it away almost immediately.
“…Don’t get too complacent.”
As he dodged to his knees, the Gyecheon Sect Leader regained his stance. The pain from his wounds was still excruciating, but he had managed to stop the bleeding using his Qi.
“Do you think having succeeded in an attack grants you any odds of winning?”
Woong–!! The scattered swords began to rise into the air, returning to the Gyecheon Sect Leader.
They circled around him, spinning.
“With that attack, you couldn’t sever my neck. That seals your fate.”
The Gyecheon Sect Leader grimaced and pointed a finger downward.
In that moment, all the swords flew towards Nangong Bi-ah, at breathtaking speed.
Lines traced the air as the swords darted forth.
“…”
He watched the swords move with elegance, feeling an overwhelming sense of threat. Each sword, infused with Sword Intent, reflected the Gyecheon Sect Leader’s strength, clear and heavy.
Individually, they were enough to threaten lives.
“…”
Nangong Bi-ah merely smiled silently at the swords soaring towards her.
Then—
Swoosh. She began to move as if dancing.
The Gyecheon Sect Leader furrowed his brow as he witnessed this action.
Her movements were smooth.
Like silk swaying in the breeze. The elegance was striking, and combined with her stunning beauty, it was delightful to behold.
‘What is she doing?’
It did not suit the current situation. Elegant movements in this chaos made her appear mad—a dancer soaked in blood.
‘Has she lost her mind?’
He wondered if her failure at the last strike had plunged her into despair. Just as this thought crossed the Gyecheon Sect Leader’s mind—
Shhh-!
“…!”
His eyes widened at the spectacle unfolding before him. He sensed something from her beautifully flowing movements.
The swords continued to slice through the air at the Gyecheon Sect Leader’s will. Their speed exceeded sound, and the number was far from trivial.
Swish swish-!
“This girl…?”
Even if a multitude of swords pierced in one direction, bizarrely, they managed to avoid even grazing Nangong Bi-ah’s clothes.
There was no sound from her feet touching the ground.
Her seemingly gentle movements evaded every attack.
Like delicate feathers. If a gust of wind blew, one would think she might just fly away, yet she danced through the air, maintaining balance.
‘What in the world is that?’
The Gyecheon Sect Leader could hardly believe what he was witnessing. Such actions surpassed the realm of perception.
For any martial artist, it was behavior they would never adopt.
She had completely broken free from conventionality.
Nangong Bi-ah embodied that concept, and the Gyecheon Sect Leader could only stare at her in disbelief.
‘What the…’
What on earth could this be?
The Gyecheon Sect Leader stared at Nangong Bi-ah with trembling eyes. Another sword narrowly missed her. No, it felt as if the sword had intentionally swerved away from her.
It appeared so natural yet strangely artificial.
Another sword. Then another.
Nangong Bi-ah evaded the Gyecheon Sect Leader’s sword technique, walking forward all the while.
She didn’t even glance at the swords flying past her.
‘What is that…!’
Only then did the Gyecheon Sect Leader finally comprehend her condition.
This was the State of No-Self.
‘…How dare you engage in battle with me!’
She was confronting him while they both bore wounds from their exchange.
Yet, how could she attain such a meditative state in this situation?
‘No matter how much she relishes the fight, it is recklessly foolish.’
The Gyecheon Sect Leader grimaced and reached out. A sword that had been floating in the air gracefully bent and flew into his hand.
He seized the sword, and in that moment, the energy surging within him transformed altogether.
Though the pain from his injuries throbbed, he no longer cared about it.
‘I will kill you.’
Regardless of being the Star King, he would simply end this. If not, his pride would never recover.
A State of No-Self? Even if she entered there, what would change?
Unconventional movements or Heart Sword? That too was meaningless.
Ultimately, the one standing at the end of this fight would be himself.
‘If possible, I would prefer not to use it…’
Perhaps he would have to. A faint unease whispered in the Gyecheon Sect Leader’s mind, but he forcibly ignored it.
Whoosh—! The speed of the sword darting again increased. Energy erupted from the lower dantian.
With this kind of output, he couldn’t last even half a meal in terms of time.
But he didn’t care.
‘That will be enough.’
The sword plunged toward Nangong Bi-ah. At the same time, the Gyecheon Sect Leader jumped.
A flash of light soared through the air.
All radiance aimed at Nangong Bi-ah, yet she continued to advance unaffected.
Bam-! One sword grazed Nangong Bi-ah’s shoulder, tearing her robe and spilling blood.
Still, she would not stop.
The distance closed. Another sword swooped in. Nangong Bi-ah twisted her waist to evade the attack.
Yet, this was merely a feint.
Giving her a chance to evade would only allow the third sword to come crashing in.
Nangong Bi-ah moved her sword.
Crash. The sword infused with Thunder Qi tore through the air, countering the Gyecheon Sect Leader’s sword.
Clang-! The ricocheted sword skidded across the floor. At that moment—
The Gyecheon Sect Leader had already reached Nangong Bi-ah.
He had drawn her attention with three swords and had arrived at his destination with full speed.
Nangong Bi-ah’s gaze turned peculiar upon confirming this.
Seeing that, the Gyecheon Sect Leader adjusted his speed just for a moment.
Slash! The tip of his sword brushed past.
It was the Heart Sword.
Though the Gyecheon Sect Leader himself hadn’t yet grasped the Realm of the Heart, he could feel it, and ultimately, he had evaded the Heart Sword.
He had successfully closed in, plunging his sword deep.
The Gyecheon Sect Leader laughed as he raised the sword.
“I told you.”
The sword slid forth.
“The moment you couldn’t sever my neck, your fate was sealed.”
An unstoppable sword.
That sword embedded toward Nangong Bi-ah’s pale neck, yet—
Clang-!
“…!”
All of a sudden, the Gyecheon Sect Leader’s sword was deflected.
Someone had intervened to block the attack. The elder’s gaze turned downward.
The first thing that came into view was a deep golden blonde, and the second was a pair of golden eyes shimmering as if aflame.
“You…!”
The Gyecheon Sect Leader swallowed his shock upon recognizing the identity.
In that moment—
Poo-! Thud thud thud-!!
“Ughk!”
A multitude of swords assaulted the Gyecheon Sect Leader’s chest.
Golden swords forged solely from energy.
Bang-! The Gyecheon Sect Leader, propelled by the impact, collided with the wall and fell. The sight triggered a sense of urgency in Wi Seol-Ah, causing her to look back.
“Sister—!”
Nangong Bi-ah also fell to her knees.
Perhaps fatigue was rushing in, as she began to breathe heavily.
“Haah… huff…”
“Sister… are you alright? I’m so sorry… suddenly losing consciousness…”
Wi Seol-Ah, with tear-filled eyes, checked on Nangong Bi-ah, who raised her hand to pat Wi Seol-Ah’s shoulder.
“I’m… fine.”
“But…!”
“…It’s fine… it was fun.”
“…Huh?”
Confused by her words, Nangong Bi-ah genuinely broke into a joyful expression.
“You’re bleeding too much. First, let me stop the bleeding.”
“…Okay…”
Before she finished her sentence, Wi Seol-Ah placed her hand on Nangong Bi-ah’s back and began to pour energy into her.
She managed to staunch the bleeding barely.
Though pain overwhelmed her, fatigue had completely taken its toll.
She had barely regained her senses, yet it was evident her inability to contribute to the battle had caused this.
Wi Seol-Ah nervously bit her lips in guilt.
“I’m sorry, sister. We need to hurry and escape this place…”
“Cough-!!”
At the sound of a cough coming from the wall, Wi Seol-Ah’s expression hardened instantly.
“…Wait here. I’ll be back.”
Armed with a sword, Wi Seol-Ah moved.
“Ugh… huff…”
Crouched on the ground, the Gyecheon Sect Leader lay there, bloodstained and smiling wryly.
“…I had momentarily forgotten about you. I should have killed you first.”
He knew there was another girl. Still, in his greed, he had made a fatal error.
He should have started by severing her neck with his sword.
“…Ah… what a pity.”
Words escaped the Gyecheon Sect Leader. However, Wi Seol-Ah offered no reply to his remarks.
She merely rushed in to sever his neck. Watching that, the Gyecheon Sect Leader seemed resigned…
He pulled something from his sleeve.
“To use this precious thing… now.”
He revealed what he had taken. Upon realizing it, Wi Seol-Ah accelerated her pace.
But the Gyecheon Sect Leader had already placed what he held into his mouth.
Crunch-!
The change was instantaneous.
Smash-!
“…Huh…?”
The Gyecheon Sect Leader seized a flying sword mid-air. Wi Seol-Ah let out a breath of relief at the sight.
Bang-!
“…Cough!”
A blow to the abdomen sent Wi Seol-Ah flying. Squeak—!! Her feet scraped against the ground to slow her momentum. She barely avoided a worse impact.
“…Ugh…”
The agony in her abdomen forced her to clutch her belly. Even as she hastily gathered her remaining energy, the shock still managed to overwhelm her.
“Haah… haah…”
Wi Seol-Ah collected her breath and assumed her stance. At that moment, Nangong Bi-ah also rose again.
The two exchanged glances in response to the sudden occurrence directed at the Gyecheon Sect Leader.
“…Sister.”
“…Yeah…”
Wi Seol-Ah gently patted Nangong Bi-ah’s arm, signaling her.
A chill ran down their spines. The ominous presence made their bodies respond instinctively.
“…Cough…”
The Gyecheon Sect Leader slowly rose to his feet. A transformation was already occurring within him.
His hair, unusually dark for his age, began to turn completely white.
His tall frame grew even larger.
He appeared to exceed the height of eight feet. His swordsmanship’s inherent lean physique was now swelling with bulging muscles.
That alone was an unfathomable change. However, there was something even odder.
Scales were emerging on his skin. His eyes were gradually shifting to a golden hue.
“…”
Realizing this, Nangong Bi-ah immediately glanced at Wi Seol-Ah.
Wi Seol-Ah swallowed involuntarily.
[Haa…]
The Gyecheon Sect Leader let out a low sigh.
[…Ahh…]
With just a short remark, Nangong Bi-ah grimaced, feeling the anguish accompany his voice.
It was dangerous. Whatever that was, the current Gyecheon Sect Leader felt perilous.
[Do you understand?]
His voice reverberated throughout the space.
[This is the Star King… No, it was something I would never use against the Star King. That item was far too precious even for him, yet I might use it against you two.]
What a waste. What a lament, yet the Gyecheon Sect Leader managed to smile.
The overwhelming sense of superiority and ease was exceedingly sweet.
[…That, too, no longer matters. You lowly beings…]
As he spoke to the two of them, the Gyecheon Sect Leader suddenly tilted his head.
It was an instinctive reaction at the sight of Wi Seol-Ah.
[Hmm?]
“…”
As the Gyecheon Sect Leader regarded Wi Seol-Ah, he appeared lost in thought.
“…Sister.”
At this cue, Wi Seol-Ah called for Nangong Bi-ah.
Simultaneously, Wi Seol-Ah ignited the energy she had been holding back. The innate energy began to bubble forth. If Nangong Bi-ah drew the Thunder Fang, perhaps it could work out?
While Wi Seol-Ah focused her mind upon that possibility, Nangong Bi-ah clasped Wi Seol-Ah’s shoulder.
“…No.”
“What? But… if we don’t…”
Isn’t there no other way? Wi Seol-Ah halted her words, having realized.
“It’s fine.”
Nangong Bi-ah stated with abundant belief and assurance, gazing at the door while Wi Seol-Ah shared the same look.
At that moment, the Gyecheon Sect Leader regained focus, as if something struck him, and turned to Wi Seol-Ah.
[Ahh, I see. You are… No, you are both…]
Crack.
[Hmm?]
The source of the noise was none other than the iron door.
The door was beginning to crumple. The sound emanated from it. It was as if something from outside was trying to pry it open.
Unbelievable.
[That is… something that cannot be broken by anyone!]
A space that could not be opened by just anyone, unbreakable.
That was the defining characteristic of this underground chamber, yet what on earth could that be?
The Gyecheon Sect Leader could not believe the reality before him.
Yet, disregarding such doubts, the door very swiftly began to lose its shape.
Bang—!!
Finally, the iron door was ripped off its hinges.
Simultaneously, something flew toward the Gyecheon Sect Leader.
He could see it up close. It was a fist.
Bam-! His face collided with the fist, and the Gyecheon Sect Leader’s face slammed into the ground.
“Cough…!”
He let out a pained groan but couldn’t prolong it.
Next came the bottom of a foot.
[Stop—!]
Crack-!
The foot stomped down on the Gyecheon Sect Leader’s face. With a sound like cracking glass, the ground split like spider silk.
The ground, deemed impervious, crumbled effortlessly.
“Cough… ugh…”
The Gyecheon Sect Leader trembled underfoot as he lay crushed.
Watching this was the owner of the foot, a young man with purple eyes—Gu Yangcheong.
“…What the hell is this monster?”
His voice contradicted his actions, filled with surprise.
