Chapter 83: The Completion of Revenge (1)

Martial power was a concept that was both tangible and abstract.

It was clear that something called martial power existed, but it was difficult to accurately measure and quantify it.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it was difficult to standardize.

I remembered learning a great deal about this from Chwipung-gae.

“Dancheon Myeong.”

“Ah. Just call me Myeong-gae, please.”

“Alright. Myeong-gae.”

“Yes.”

“If the Iron Sword Scholar and the Solitary Wolf Wanderer were to fight, who would win?”

The Iron Sword Scholar was a Peak Realm master who had long made a name for himself in the Hebei region, while the Solitary Wolf Wanderer was a recently rising First-Rate wanderer.

Therefore, my answer was unhesitating.

“The Iron Sword Scholar would win.”

“You know the basics.”

“I’m at the Third Stage of Body Reformation now, wouldn’t I at least know about the masters in the vicinity?”

Chwipung-gae, who had nodded, asked another question.

“Then what would happen if an injured Iron Sword Scholar fought a Solitary Wolf Wanderer at full strength?”

“Hmm. The Iron Sword Scholar?”

“Even though he’s injured? He wouldn’t even be able to properly wield his Sword Qi.”

“That’s true, isn’t it? The Solitary Wolf Wanderer would win?”

“A First-Rate defeating a Peak Realm?”

“…”

The mischievous smile of the old beggar was annoying.

“What’s the answer?”

“I don’t know either.”

“Pardon?”

“You have to see them fight to know. How would I know?”

“Isn’t that a scam?”

“Are you complaining?”

“No.”

Chwipung-gae was indeed a mischievous beggar, but I knew he was not a person who asked completely useless questions.

As the Third-Stage Myeong-gae, completed thanks to Chwipung-gae’s profound teachings, I could not be unaware of that fact.

“But why are you suddenly asking such a thing?”

“It means that even if you have entered the Peak Realm, if you can’t maintain your full strength, your head could be taken by a First-Rate fellow.”

“That makes sense.”

Members of the Beggar’s Gang were, in the end, martial artists living in the Jianghu Murim, so it was right to engrave his teachings in my bones.

“Furthermore, there’s something else you should know.”

“What is that?”

“How much do you know about compatibility?”

“I don’t know anything.”

“Aigoo.”

Chwipung-gae lamented, but I wasn’t ashamed.

It was because being ignorant for not having learned was not something to be ashamed of.

Isn’t it shameful to not know even after learning, or to not even have the thought to learn?

“Please teach me.”

As if dumbfounded by my confident attitude, Chwipung-gae chuckled and continued speaking.

“There is the tale of the Three Wonders of the World.”

The Three Wonders of the World.

It was said to be a term referring to three martial artists from Mount Hua, Zhongnan, and the Peng Clan who had become sworn brothers, breaking down the walls between their families and sects.

“The Sword Wonder of Mount Hua could not defeat the Sword Immortal of Zhongnan.”

The sword of Mount Hua, which took swiftness, illusion, and change as its core, confused the opponent to find an opening. Its miraculous nature was a supreme art that had reached the pinnacle of the Jianghu.

However, against the sword of Zhongnan, which boasted extreme defense by covering all thirty-six directions, the subtleties of the Mount Hua sword found it difficult to exert their power.

It meant that a swordsman from Zhongnan who had mastered the Thirty-six Swords of the World based on the principles of the Six Harmonies held a compatibility advantage against a swordsman from Mount Hua who had mastered the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Art.

“However, the Saber Master of the Peng Clan easily defeated the Sword Immortal of Zhongnan.”

From ancient times, the symbol of physical strength was said to be the Peng Clan of Hebei. The essence of that strength was captured in the Peng Clan’s secret ultimate art, the Five Tigers Soul-Severing Blade Art.

To get to the point, the Five Tigers Soul-Severing Blade Art tended to easily break through the Thirty-six Swords of the World. It was because even if the sword art of Zhongnan covered all directions, it was enough to simply shatter it with physical strength.

“But the Saber Master of the Peng Clan could not handle the Sword Wonder of Mount Hua.”

A saber master of the Five Tigers Soul-Severing Blade Art tended to be helpless against a swordsman from Mount Hua who had learned the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Art.

It was because, based on the principles of change, illusion, and swiftness, they stirred up the space, leaving no opportunity for the Five Tigers Soul-Severing Blade Art to exert its physical strength.

“Here’s the question. Among the three, who would be the strongest?”

“Hmm.”

“You don’t know?”

Chwipung-gae asked with a smirk.

But who was I? Was I not Myeong-gae?

I wasn’t naive enough to fall for the same trick twice, so I could easily deduce the answer.

“It would depend on who the opponent is. It would be right to conclude that martial arts are relative and variable. Isn’t that what compatibility is?”

“You are right.”

Chwipung-gae agreed with my words with a somewhat reluctant expression.

I guessed it was because he had failed in his attempt to nag and tease me a little more.

“A proper information broker must know many things. Do not be lazy in your studies.”

“Yes, sir.”

.

.

.

Chwipung-gae’s teachings were indeed correct.

It couldn’t be said that the statement ‘the one with the higher realm is stronger’ was wrong, but it meant that it wasn’t an absolute proposition.

It meant that how well one maintained their full strength, or what the compatibility was like, could also have a significant influence on the outcome.

In the end, it meant you have to face off to know who is superior. This was even more so the more similar the levels were.

“Klklkl. The young lad is quite something indeed. I see the reason you stepped forward with such confidence.”

The sinisterly smiling Yin Blood Divine Demon was captured in my sight.

The Divine Demons of the Demonic Cult were typically those who had reached the Transcendent Demonic Realm, or in Central Plains terms, the State of Harmony.

It was because in the mighty Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, one who hadn’t even surpassed the Extreme Demonic Realm couldn’t obtain the supreme rank of Divine Demon.

And my realm, having entered the Fifth Stage of Body Reformation, could also be described as the State of Harmony.

Since both were in a similar realm called the State of Harmony, it meant that we would have to face off properly to know who was superior.

“We’ll have to see.”

“See what?”

“Whose thread of life is longer.”

The process of seeing who is superior was commonly called a life-and-death duel in the Jianghu Murim.

Am I stronger?

Or is the Yin Blood Divine Demon stronger?

Whose martial power is superior?

It meant that my life was on the line for this seemingly trivial question.

***

“Do you intend to face me alone?”

“That is correct.”

At my answer, the Yin Blood Divine Demon showed a surprised expression.

I knew why.

It was because, judging by his age and the aura he exuded, he had assumed Chwipung-gae was his opponent.

In any case, upon hearing my answer, the Yin Blood Divine Demon smiled sinisterly.

To venture a bit of mind-reading, it was likely that he thought it didn’t matter in what order, since he would kill everyone anyway.

“A young man rushing to his death.”

“I will live longer than you, old man, so you can put your worries to rest.”

At my answer, the Yin Blood Divine Demon’s expression turned sullen.

I knew the temperament of such types.

They had always reigned and suppressed those below them, so they had no immunity to backtalk.

“A young man who knows no etiquette towards his elders.”

“Instead of showing off just because you’re old, how about you finally pass on for the sake of the growing pillars of the future?”

I spoke calmly, but it was enough to provoke the Yin Blood Divine Demon.

“I will have to kill you.”

“Can you do it?”

I didn’t forget to give him a fresh smile. Usually, in such debates, the one who can smile sincerely wins.

A crack appeared in the Yin Blood Divine Demon’s sullen expression, so it was a satisfying war of words.

It seemed I had won the preliminary bout, but it was not an important matter.

It was because the outcome of a life-and-death duel was not decided by words.

Unlike my free-flowing speech, my body was slightly tensed.

To be honest, I was nervous.

If I were to find a reason, it would be because even the Iron Mountain Demon Lord had not been an easy opponent for me.

My experience in life-and-death duels with masters who had fully reached the Transcendent Demonic Realm was lacking, so it was difficult to gauge.

Confronting the Heavenly Demon was more akin to resistance or a desperate struggle than a battle, so it couldn’t serve as a sample.

Grip-

I composed my mind by recalling the experience I did have, the Iron Mountain Demon Lord.

Though I was confident I was superior, the Iron Mountain Demon Lord was an opponent who could never be taken lightly.

It meant that he too had the capability to kill me.

If even a Demon Lord could not be taken lightly in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, it would be absurd to underestimate a Divine Demon.

In other words, from now on, I would have to fight with my life on the line.

Since my life was on the line, this level of tension might even be absolutely necessary.

-Do you need help?

-I’m fine.

I had refused the help of the Emperor Breaker, Yeom Gi-ha.

-Are you serious?

-Do you wish for me to remain a flower in a greenhouse?

-Aren’t you already a fully bloomed flower?

-Not yet.

-Hmm. You are a greedy one.

The reason I went out of my way to refuse him, the all-powerful problem solver, was not due to pride or bravado.

It was for my own growth.

-The Healing Sage’s Mind Cultivation Art is a martial art that aims for ascension through the pursuit of the Way. As it stands in opposition to evil things, it will aptly become their natural enemy.

At the same time, it could be called trust in the Healing Sage.

It might not reach the level of Shaolin’s Demon Subjugation, but the Healing Sage’s Mind Cultivation Art was also a martial art that held a great compatibility advantage over many demonic arts.

He had said that the more evil the opponent, the more the Healing Sage’s Mind Cultivation Art would shine.

Especially if the opponent was something as sinister as the martial arts of the Crimson Fang Goru Clan, the Healing Sage’s Mind Cultivation Art would aptly exhibit its supreme efficacy.

“Hoo-”

I eased my tension with a deep breath.

I shouldn’t be nervous over a mere Yin Blood Divine Demon.

-A pleasure to meet you. I am the Heavenly Demon of this era, Seol Cheon-sang.

It was because my ultimate goal was not a mere Divine Demon, but the Heavenly Demon.

To face that chilling singularity, I would have to become bolder than I was now.

“I will kill you. Painfully, if possible.”

Woooong-

A red energy began to shimmer in the hands of the Yin Blood Divine Demon, who was muttering eerie words.

A hand flux that resembled fresh blood.

In other words, it was the Blood Jade Flux, one of the Yin Blood Divine Demon’s signature ultimate techniques.

“Try it if you can.”

Woooong-

As if in response, a distinct cluster of stars shimmered on the Dancheon Sword I gripped.

My Sword Flux was manifesting more intensely than usual.

It was because I knew that the blood jade formed in that hand flux was a color obtained by stealing the essence and blood of others.

Swish.

Jjeong-!

A clash of fluxes occurred without any warning.

The exchange of blows between masters who have reached the supreme level is often accomplished in such an instant.

“Ho?”

When his attack was blocked, the Yin Blood Divine Demon was slightly surprised.

Because the only skill I had shown on my own was Sword Flux, the Yin Blood Divine Demon must have thought I was a master of the State of Harmony.

However, through the recent exchange of blows, he must have realized that I was not just any ordinary State of Harmony master.

The Yin Blood Divine Demon, who realized that fact, tried to distance himself from me, but it was no use.

It was because now, when the Yin Blood Divine Demon had closed the distance himself, was the opportunity.

In the battles of high-level masters, there was no greater mistake than misjudging the opponent’s capabilities.

Spat!

Jjeong!

Whir- Swiik!

Jjeo-jeong-!

“Keuk.”

The Yin Blood Divine Demon managed to block my continuous slashes.

He was indeed not an easy opponent.

Thrust!

Using the opening he found while blocking the attack, the Yin Blood Divine Demon leaped back to create distance.

“…Did you achieve reversal of aging or something?”

“It’s you who is lacking, having reached that realm only at your age.”

It was different from before; I had truly gained a sense of ease.

It was because I was now certain that my sword could reach the Yin Blood Divine Demon.

Drip-

Unable to completely block the slash imbued with flux, blood slightly seeped from the back of the Yin Blood Divine Demon’s hand.

It was faint, but my Sword Flux had pierced through the Yin Blood Divine Demon’s blood jade.

“Oh dear, what a waste.”

The Yin Blood Divine Demon said so and licked the blood seeping from the back of his hand.

“What an unsightly scene.”

As the old man with a harsh impression licked the back of his hand with an ecstatic expression, my true feelings naturally flowed from my mouth.

The mindset of respecting my elders, which I never really had in the first place, completely vanished.

“Huuuum-”

Regardless of my impression, the Yin Blood Divine Demon’s expression was slightly flushed.

It seemed his Yin Blood did not distinguish between self and others.

“You, now that I see you, you have a delicious smell.”

“You, old man, have a foul smell.”

My tone was still enough to grate on his nerves, but the Yin Blood Divine Demon didn’t mind.

Rather, the light in his gaze as he looked at me intensified.

It was a familiar gaze.

I remembered reading that emotion many times in the eyes of beggars looking at a gourmet feast.

“If I eat you, I can become the greatest among the Divine Demons.”

“Your greed is excessive, old man.”

“Klkl. We’ll see if it’s greed or truth.”

The Yin Blood Divine Demon’s internal energy began to churn as he said so.

As the churning, sinister internal energy resonated with the world, it created the illusion that the world had been dyed in blood for a moment.

It wasn’t a complete illusion, as a bloody mist began to fill the surroundings.

I didn’t know the name of the martial art or its mechanism, but I knew it was the greatest ultimate art the Yin Blood Divine Demon possessed.

“Is that your ultimate move, old man?”

I asked, gripping the Dancheon Sword.

“What do you think?”

“It’s more pathetic than I thought.”

“Kilkil. Then try dying to something pathetic.”

The reconnaissance was over.

It meant that we were now entering a truly fierce life-and-death duel.

“Shut up and come at me.”

However, I had a thought that it wouldn’t be too difficult.

I wasn’t sure if I had grown stronger in the meantime, or if the Yin Blood Divine Demon was weaker than I thought.

But a conviction of certain victory settled in my grasp.

Originally, overpowering was more difficult than killing, but for me now, it would not be very difficult.

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