Chapter 317. The Song of Swords (2)

Even without words…

…the sincerity is conveyed.

The Dark Emperor didn’t ask any further questions.

Instead, he accepted the offer with a gesture of respect.

“I am the leader of the Heavenly Demon Church, the Dark Emperor.”

The one who assists the Heavenly Demon from his right.

For the martial world.

To retrieve the lost inner power of the Heavenly Demon.

For the first and last time, a contest of skills, not life and death, was held between the Martial Alliance and the Heavenly Demon Church.

Boom!

The Dark Emperor’s fists collided.

The energy of the ‘Dark Heavenly Demon Power’ exploded in a moment, and everything around began to darken.

Swoosh.

Chu Hyon-Sa-Yeong also stepped forward with his sword, infused with his sword’s energy, in his right hand.

Thud.

Trudge.

Footsteps improbably light for the tense situation.

The air was heavy as the depths of the sea as the two men closed the distance between them.

One step.

This distance is what third-rate warriors use to measure each other’s reach.

Not knowing the right measure for themselves, they play it safe and keep their distance.

Trudge.

The gap narrows.

Two steps.

This is the distance for first-rate martial artists.

Within sword’s reach, they could inflict wounds on each other.

That’s why even those first-rate martial artists wouldn’t carelessly close the distance further.

Trudge.

Once more, the distance closed.

Neither the Dark Emperor nor Chu Hyon-Sa-Yeong made a move, their eyes gleaming like predators. They just kept moving forward.

Three steps.

The distance of peak-level masters.

Only those who have fully mastered their reach could dare to come this close.

Immediately, swords and fists could clash, and it wouldn’t be odd.

Yet, still, neither of them swung their swords or thrust a punch.

Finally, the fourth step.

Close enough for their breaths to mingle.

Any sane martial artist wouldn’t let the opponent get this close.

But the two grandmasters representing the martial world entered each other’s space without any hesitation.

In a flash.

Ssshhh…

A blinding radiance arose.

[Chu Hyon-Sa-Yeong activates ‘Pursuing Soul Sword Dance’!]

The sword sings.

Different from the Pursuing Soul Sword that Cheon Yoo-Seong used.

Different from the Pursuing Soul Sword that Jin Hyuk used.

The original Sword Dance of the one who created the Pursuing Soul Sword cut through the air chaotically.

Flowers made of sword energy blossomed and white snow fell on the night sky.

Boom, boom, boom!

Trying to predict the sword path is meaningless.

As each technique spawns a new one.

“Heugh!”

The Dark Emperor inhaled deeply.

Bang! Bang! Boom boom bang!

He fended off the invisible, lightning-fast sword strikes with his fists, looking for an opportunity.

After all, the Dark Emperor’s forte wasn’t speed but destructive power.

Therefore, a single, decisive strike was critical to determine the outcome.

Ssssrrrk!

Tssst!

New wounds appear all over his body.

Red lines drawn across flesh harder than steel—so precariously sharp, just enduring was hard.

But the Dark Emperor waited for the moment when Chu Hyon-Sa-Yeong’s breathing and the flow of his sword slightly misaligned, not allowing any fatal hits.

Now.

…Right now!

Every sequence inevitably contains a gap.

He found the brief moment between the succession of sword strikes.

Chu Hyon-Sa-Yeong realized his own vulnerability, but it was too short for a significant attack.

Pop pop pop!

The Dark Emperor took five sword strikes with his body and pulled back his fist.

A dreadful energy condensed to a single point.

Ommmm!

Even if it’s just a contest…

When two people of such calibre fight, the story completely changes.

“This is my martial arts. Let’s see if you can take it.”

Boom!

Chu Hyon-Sa-Yeong’s deployed sword barrier and the Dark Emperor’s fist collided head-on.

The atmosphere reverberated with a thunderous sound.

“Kuhk!”

The sword barrier, reinforced with protective energy, wavered violently.

It couldn’t absorb all the impact.

[Massive amounts of Ether are released!]

Boom, boom, boom!

The force of the two energies was beyond imagination, clearing bamboo as thickly spread as they were, almost fitting for a swept battlefield.

The landscape and the features of the land changed.

Just moments ago, this place was a forest, but now it resembled a war zone.

‘Just as I expected.’

Jin Hyuk looked at the sword hilt and white spheres floating in the air.

Yin and yang energies.

The two energies floating around soon…

Tssss…

Failed to pass through the barrier and returned to the ground.

More precisely, they started to be absorbed into the body of the Heavenly Demon.

[Your inner energy recovers.]

[Your inner energy recovers.]

‘The Eyes of Gluttony’ saw the Heavenly Demon recovering quickly.

However…

‘This is a bit problematic…’

Jin Hyuk frowned.

Yin and yang.

To fill the vast vessel that is the Heavenly Demon, a contest between two people is insufficient.

It’s not just a quantity issue… it’s about diversity.

Even within yin and yang energies, they split into dozens of distinct types in detail.

The same martial art used by different people will produce utterly different energies.

In fact, once the Heavenly Demon’s recovery reached a certain level, no further progress was made.

“……”

“……”

The Dark Emperor and Chu Hyon-Sa-Yeong felt the same tension.

They saw the black and white spheres floating in the air, unable to be absorbed.

“It seems our fighting alone isn’t enough.”

“Indeed, as you said. This way, no matter how much we strike and clash, it’s meaningless. Our energies are already overflowing.”

Then…

Their gazes turned in different directions.

＊＊＊

Chu Hyon-Sa-Yeong’s hand gently touched Cheon Yoo-Seong’s cheek.

His white hand reflected the moonlight, looking particularly pale.

“From the Martial Alliance, I’ll have my disciple step up. Our Cheon Gongja’s Pursuing Soul Sword can generate a kind of energy that is the same, yet different from mine.”

“Master… me? Are you talking about me?”

Cheon Yoo-Seong asked back, seemingly surprised.

“Oh my, don’t tell me you’re not confident? To be outperformed by the Dark Emperor’s disciple would mean I’ve taught the Pursuing Soul Sword for nothing.”

A battle with Jin Hyuk rather than with the Dark Emperor.

Realizing who he would fight, a gleam of interest flashed in Cheon Yoo-Seong’s eyes.

“That’s… exactly what I hoped for.”

A battle with Jin Hyuk was something Chu Hyon-Sa-Yeong didn’t even need to push for; Cheon Yoo-Seong had been eagerly anticipating it.

Sling!

Cheon Yoo-Seong drew his sword.

The ‘Blossom Flame Sword’ he got from Jin Hyuk traced a gentle curve.

“Today, I will defeat the bastard and prove that my sword is the best.”

“Hmm. That brat says he’s going to crush you?”

The Dark Emperor also patted Jin Hyuk’s shoulder.

“Well, he’s always been like that. He gets beaten, cries, and… I’ve grown used to it.”

“Ha ha ha! That’s a fine spirit. Yes, our battle ended in a draw, but you must crush that boy’s disciple. Make it so they never even think to challenge the Heavenly Demon Church again.”

Since the Dark Emperor and Chu Hyon-Sa-Yeong were of similar strength, they couldn’t decide a battle within the confines of a martial contest.

If they truly fought to win, the only option left would be to employ lethal moves.

“I intend to.”

Jin Hyuk pulled out his fangs from beyond the distorted space.

Underneath the moonlight.

Two swords were drawn.

Cheon Yoo-Seong gathered his breath.

[Your unique ability ‘Song of the Sword’ is activated!]

“I’ve been waiting for this day. Kang Jin Hyuk.”

Brilliant yang energy surged up.

Kuuuk!

Sword pressure created a windstorm around Cheon Yoo-Seong.

At the same time.

[Your unique ability ‘Tomb of the Sword’ is activated!]

“You too… really don’t have any special days, huh?”

A cold yin energy clung to Jin Hyuk’s fangs.

The Dark Emperor and Chu Hyon-Sa-Yeong watched their disciples.

As if they were looking at two pillars that would lead the world in the future.

Then.

Tap!

Tap!

Jin Hyuk and Cheon Yoo-Seong rushed toward each other.

＊＊＊

The heart throbs.

Crossing swords.

The chill that could slash the flesh.

Their techniques merged into one.

Jin Hyuk sliced his sword horizontally.

Clang!

Cheon Yoo-Seong deviated slightly from the path of the fang and struck back immediately.

His fierce strike, aiming for arms and legs, rushed in like a storm.

Clang, clang, clang!

Jin Hyuk turned his fang counter-clockwise.

‘He has certainly become stronger.’

In the past, he was just a pesky leech…

Now I can feel in my bones how much he’s grown.

No doubt he was rigorously trained by Chu Hyon-Sa-Yeong.

Cheon Yoo-Seong lowered his stance and prepared for the next attack.

Whooosh!

A sword energy spreading from the tip of the sword.

There, a new form of the Pursuing Soul Sword unfolded.

Simultaneously.

Jin Hyuk also displayed a new technique along the void.

Pursuing Soul Sword Dance.

Demon Soul Sword Dance.

Different sword dances.

However, both swords aim for the same end.

Fifth form.

Fifth form.

The forms are just a process to reach that end.

Pursuing Heaven Extinguish!

Demon Ridge Impulse!

Pursuing Soul Sword and Demon Soul Sword.

Boom!

The two ultimate techniques neutralized each other.

[New types of Ether are generated!]

Yellow sparks erupted amidst the black and white spheres.

A new path has been opened.

Just a little more, and the Heavenly Demon’s inner energy will be significantly recovered.

Even if not at its prime, at least seventy percent is achievable.

Just then.

“How about it?”

Cheon Yoo-Seong’s sword halted for the first time.

“Huh? What’s what?”

“What do you think of my sword? Have you noticed any changes from before? If anything has changed, how much has it changed? Tell me.”

As usual.

Like a cat that brings its catch in front of its owner, eager for praise.

‘You are someone I can really go all out against.’

I could say that… but the thought of him getting smug bothers me.

‘Until I’m buried beneath the dirt, I won’t see it.’

Besides, if he got satisfied and hid his claws here, it would hinder the recovery of the Heavenly Demon’s inner power.

We need the whip now, not the carrot.

“Not bad… but surely, this isn’t all you’ve got? I mean, it doesn’t seem too different from before… Even if you trained half-heartedly, would this be all you’ve prepared?”

Jin Hyuk shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.

“What, what did you say?”

“Basically, I’m saying that Moonlight would have been better. Something like that.”

“……”

Grit!

Cheon Yoo-Seong clenched his teeth hard.

“Fine. Then I’ll show you not to joke around.”

Cheon Yoo-Seong gripped the sword with both hands.

It wasn’t perfect yet, but the essence of the Pursuing Soul Sword lay within that sword’s speed.

“That’s right… This fellow would become a ranker with the title of Sword Saint.”

I’ve always teased him so much I didn’t realize.

It’s finally sinking in that he’s one of the few talents capable of reaching the higher floors of the tower.

Ommmm!

A sword leaving traces as its number grew.

It was as if hundreds of blades materialized.

Soon, all those weapons would be launched all at once towards me.

“It will be hard to dodge all of these.”

Certainly…

This is a bit dangerous.

Jin Hyuk thrust his fang forward.

“Like you said, dodging everything will be tough.”

So then…

“I’ll just smash them all head on.”

Ssshh!

A half-moon shape of tangible energy began to swirl.

Black Moon Night.

A black crescent moon enveloping the dagger.

The skill that once made Cheon Yoo-Seong drink a few bitter cups.