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What exactly is the standard of the ideal?

I don’t know. I can’t tell where it starts and ends in terms of what can be called ideal.

Do learned people know? I don’t think so. Even those who know much may hesitate to define it outright.

But you know, everyone knows. Even if they can’t articulate it logically, they feel it in their bones.

What cannot be easily drawn with fingertips is called the ideal.

To grasp it requires more than just ordinary effort.

I am feeling that right now.

In this relentless bloodthirst.

—KAAAAANG!!!

I clash. But right after, I am pushed back by sheer force.

Fragments of powerful energy scatter all around. With a single down-swinging strike, Bai Ya screams.

It’s not that he breaks. Bai Ya’s body is strong. True to the name Ear Sword, his durability and strength are on a different level compared to ordinary swords.

However, this bloodthirst I feel is not merely targeting the sword.

The ferocity rushing towards my arm holding the sword engulfed my whole limb in an instant.

Despite defending, the power is unrelenting.

—CHWAAACK!!!

After thirty exchanges, my arm became like a rag.

“You’ve got a big mouth. Pathetic. The taste of blood isn’t that special either.”

I immediately created some distance, breathing heavily while looking down at my slowly regenerating arm.

It would have been quite difficult without Heaven’s Whispers. It’s all the more so because I’m simply pushing through with obstinacy.

Perhaps the martial arts clashed poorly.

An opponent who indulges in all sorts of tricks. A phantom sword mixed with one of the Nine Heavens.

It’s eerie. No, beyond that, there’s an unsettling malice imbued within the sword itself.

I’ve been deceived countless times.

And cut many times as well.

Catching up is tough. It’s unlike any sword I’ve faced until now.

The ultimate phantom sword. It feels similar to the one wielded by Nine Heavens Jade Woman, Geum Seoryeon.

While the roots are the same, the branches extend differently. That genius stands in stark contrast to my stubbornness.

…And that’s why.

It infuriates me even more.

“…Why?”

“Why what?”

“You wield such a sword but don’t focus on what you possess?”

“What a stupid question. True strength lies in greed. Only by grasping everything you can hold can you look down upon others.”

Guqcheong gritted his teeth. His blood-soaked eyes were shiny.

As if throwing aside any pretentious speech, his whisper sounded strange.

“I’ve consumed countless blood. Those who oppress me. Those who envy me. Those who are greedy. Those who seek to surpass me. Those who try to help me… I’ve devoured them all. That’s why I’m here.”

“……”

“To rise higher, one must obtain everything. Isn’t it absurd? Stretching out your hands when something is right in front of you is something only fools do. In this world, if you don’t rise, you’ll be eaten alive, and ignorance is like a worm gnawing at you. The moment you utter useless ideals, it’s as if you’ve blinded your own eyes.”

“You grasp the sword to achieve your ambitions.”

“Everyone in the world harbors intentions. But only one survives. Why can’t you grasp that simple principle?”

—KAAAAAAANG!!!!

Blood traces a path. The energy that surged forward tears through the air in an instant.

I charge. I strike it away. I exhale, my breath heated up to my throat.

I correct my posture. I let loose the phantom sword and hook the reality sword. I place my sword atop it.

The tension that could explode is settling on the tip of my sword.

I shout.

With my whole body. In stark contrast to the path I’ve walked.

Nine Heavens Blood Demon Technique

Fourth Form

Flash Dispersal – Nine-Headed Dragon Kill

Originally in this world, a single strike would shatter, split into nine faint lines.

The expanded strike envelopes the air in an instant, charging forward while consuming even the blood-red energy.

“You’re crawling up!”

The opponent counters as if it’s only natural. All my extended energy is shattered.

But I expected as much.

I stretched out my leg. I concealed myself among the scattering energies.

I unleashed Ghostly Spirit Step and accelerated my body. I didn’t come here to just take hits.

I came to save.

Someone precious to me.

So I must surpass. Even if the opponent’s stance is taller than mine, I must surpass.

Nothing is impossible. Even if it seems so, believe it.

What you must believe in is always at your fingertips. The path I’ve trodden awaits my glance back.

What I should have blossomed from my fingertips bursts forth from my sword tip.

Recognize the difference between the enemy and me, and catch up to that gap.

With all my strength!

“Mu…?!”

In that moment, the Nine Heavens Blood Demon Sword lunges at the slightly delayed opponent.

I briefly close the distance with the opponent in front of me, igniting all my energy and cloaking my body with bloodthirst.

Yet still, it’s far. The gap remains.

But I know.

The method I’ve fought with until now.

If I burn everything, I can surpass something, even if just for a moment.

Why am I here?

To wield my sword for what purpose?

Why have I kept repeating this arduous path?

“…Huff…!”

A purpose crystallizes at the tip of my breath.

It’s not perfect, but it moves. The will within me.

Shout! With all my might.

If I don’t shout now, I won’t be given the chance to.

Always clinging is the fleeting Blood Sword.

My spilled blood.

Embed your intention.

To walk a road that everyone calls foolish.

To seize what I desire!

Nine Heavens Blood Demon Technique

Fifth Form

Blood Shadow Two Flowers – Ten Thousand Penetrations

The later stages of swordsmanship blend with handling powerful energy.

Twice accelerated, Bai Ya howls. The energy clinging to him sinks its teeth into the enemy in an instant.

Like a beast. Like a beast digging its claws into an unseen cliff.

Two flowers pierce the enemy.

—KWA-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-AANG!!!!

A delayed explosive sound reverberates. The world trembles as if about to collapse.

Dust pours down. Rocks, rolling like dirt, begin to settle into the pit.

Structures unable to withstand the clashing energies break apart. Guqcheong, previously mixed in, spits out blood for the first time.

“What… what is this…?! How could… someone like you…?! Could it be… crossing the wall against me…?!”

I’m not normal either. As a price for crossing a line, my entire body trembles like crazy.

But I heard it. Still can hear it.

Even if my body shakes, my will remains.

I am still standing here. To uphold the ideal and not fall, I continue to stand with my sword.

“…Guqcheong, the Blood Sect’s junior leader.”

Hasn’t my sword always bloomed flowers?

The red flowers blooming in the spilled blood, holding the ideal within.

“Lift your sword.”

Guqcheong, looking down at the blood-soaked ground, howled.

“How dare you!!!! This insolent brat!!!! Don’t think you can crawl up to me!!!!”

…

—KWA-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A!!!!

Left Scholar raised his head. He looked up at the shaking underground structure, on the brink of collapse.

This is the place we have meticulously prepared for the Grand Realm for a long time. It took over twenty years just to build.

Of course, this place has served its purpose. Enough blood has gathered to pool at Eungmin’s bottom, and the refined true blood is already in the hands of the junior leader, Guqcheong.

The conditions necessary for the true descent of Blood Demon have been practically fulfilled. But what Left Scholar feared was not that.

This structure. It should have been built sturdily considering the long time spent…

And yet, it’s collapsing. Under the exploding, volcanic-like crimson energy.

“Don’t let your guard down!!!”

Left Scholar turned his head. He raised his hand from under the trembling underground structure.

The incoming strike came crashing down head-on.

—KWHUUUUNG!!!!

In an instant, my body rattles. My body fails to dissipate the shock, getting pushed back smoothly.

The heat of the flames engulfs everywhere. My arm takes on a minor burn from the impact.

Even surrounded by protective energy, such a terrifying strike charges in.

“…Indeed. You could call yourself Huachun Quenma.”

“Fight properly!”

“But it’s lacking for me. Huachun Quenma. I cannot lose to someone like you, who merely supports the Blood Sect as one of its two pillars.”

Left Scholar brushed off his hand. He casually shook it off and then clenched his fist.

“Fire. I too shall use it. The flames rising from blood. I call this Blood Fire. Just just barely crossed the threshold. Look.”

Left Scholar stepped forward.

“This is the power of someone who has reached their limits.”

Blood Fire Technique.

Finish the Fire Strikes.

The grasped flames engulfed Huachun Quenma. The earth quaked violently as if it had just begun to shake.

—KWA-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-AANG!!!!

The energy, laden with will, not only bites into Huachun Quenma’s body but also uproots the terrain.

Walls collapse. A surge of wind, belatedly rushing in, splits both sides with a deafening noise.

Red-hot heat bore a huge hole in the underground cavern. It incinerated everything it swept away, announcing the approaching world of blood.

A clear conclusion.

A full-force strike shoved in.

Left Scholar sighed. Foolishly, he blamed the opponent for receiving his intentions head-on.

“Foolish. To receive it directly without considering dodging. Have you become a fanatic of that wretched protection? In the soon-arriving blood calamity, someone like you will be everywhere.”

—Tick-tock.

The flames crackled. Left Scholar turned his steps toward the thick hole made in the center of the cavern.

“Yet, I’ll commend you. You’ve tangled well with me. Regret your judgment for not dodging that last strike. Only the strong survive, and finding a stronger adversary means breaking. Well… That won’t matter to you anyway.”

Left Scholar took a few more steps.

But he halted at another flame that erupted from within the blaze.

…Something.

The flow is strange.

It’s rising. It’s not a simple flame; it’s exploding in all directions.

Chain explosions of flames. The growling of those who ought to be dead can be heard.

Amidst ruins collapsing upon themselves.

From it, a body still burning rises.

“…Cough, cough… Just when I was feeling the heat wasn’t enough to wake me. Thank you. For waking this lord from slumber.”

“Did you have a hidden trump card?”

“A hidden card? Don’t speak nonsense! This lord gives his all, always! That is my martial way!”

Amidst the wildly dancing flames, a glow erupts. It appears as if the flames had only just started to ignite, intensifying further.

“But even so! No matter how one gives their all every moment, there are always those who ignite slowly! This lord is that way! My true feelings always come a moment too late!”

“…What the heck are you rambling about?”

“I’ve just begun to ignite! Yes! Let’s set aside the grudge for Mi-Ryeong! Right now, what stands before me is an opponent worthy of facing me on equal footing! Ah! It burns! It burns intensely!”

It’s wheezing. It’s clearly wheezing.

The screams of someone who should be turning to ash.

…But why? What is this?

Is it burning even more fiercely? Even after being swept up by my Blood Fire Technique?

Left Scholar’s teeth ground together.

“What is he doing?”

“What do you mean by doing? Didn’t you just hear from my mouth? I am Huachun Quenma! A flame that will someday reach the heavens!”

Huachun Quenma growled. A completely risen body radiated flames of a color entirely different than before.

Beyond red, it was blue flame. Its temperature grew even fiercer.

“Someone who is at the end? Don’t talk nonsense! I too am at the end! I was furious when I couldn’t show everything to Nine Heavens Jade Woman, and now you think you can ignore me?”

“…This guy…?”

“I’ll show you! What it means to be Huachun Quenma! Why this world fears Huachun Quenma!”

 

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