“…!”
At the crossroads of moving ahead or stopping, from there, Seol-Hwi began to retreat.
He was able to place the opponent within his attack range, but when he tried to use his hands, the demonic energy around him was unusual.
And his judgment was right.
Kwakwakwang!
As soon as Seol-Hwi stepped back, this tremendous force of the air rushed in like a storm.
Dududud!
It immediately turned to purple flames, tearing through everything around it.
Dududu thud thud thud!
Beyond the five feet where the air flow moved, the entire radius of ten feet around Sima Ryang was engulfed in an explosion.
It was a tremendous shock which took over the surroundings.
“Kuak!”
It was a desperate situation, but at that time, the power of the Heavenly Demon’s technique shone.
Nine of the ten illusions were consumed by the flame, but one, just one managed to escape.
“Kua…”
Crack
Seol-Hwi rolled on the ground and coughed up blood. He could feel his insides all shaken up.
His insides had been shaken by the shockwave.
He had suffered internal wounds, and the flame which he blocked with his left arm continued to burn, still searing his flesh.
What martial arts is this…?
Chak!
Seol-Hwi hurriedly suppressed the flames with energy and then ripped off the sleeve from his shoulder and threw it.
Chiik
Purple flames shone around the ground. Seol-Hwi’s face stiffened as he saw the flames lingering on his skin even after his clothes had been burned away.
The speed too is amazing.
Heavenly Demon Explosion Arts—
Like the Heavenly Demon’s arts, the Demonic arts had an explosive nature.
But more frightening than the range was the time it took to explode. In normal cases, it took some time to convert the person’s internal energy into flame or ice. However, there was very little time between the attack he just felt.
Seol-Hwi was entirely taken aback at what he felt.
The activation time of that martial art is much shorter than mine.
Actually, with the system he had, it reduced the amount of time to execute martial arts compared to others.
And so, in every fight, he had the upper hand in that regard. However, the opponent in front of him barely seemed to have any difference.
It seemed that the process of activating and converting itself was being manifested.
“Huh… am I dreaming. I am really seeing the Heavenly Demon’s footwork.”
On the other hand, the expression of Sima Ryang looked like one which was close to thinking back. He glared at Seol-Hwi with eyes of distrust and then asked,
“What the hell are you doing? From where did you steal the footwork of the Sect Leader?”
Seol-Hwi woke up at the cry of the opponent. It seemed to have something to do with the Sect Leader. So, it felt odd again.
“Didn’t senior also use the Heavenly Demon Explosion Arts?”
“Ha! Look at this now.”
When Seol-Hwi avoided answering the question, Sima Ryang smiled like it was absurd and growled.
“I am the sajae to the Sect Leader. In other words, someone who has directly studied under the former Sect Leader, who was the Sect Leader of the sect.”
“…What?”
At those words, the hair on Seol-Hwi’s body stood up.
The sajae to the Heavenly Demon. Right, then it would make sense.
It was obviously a martial art that only a Sect Leader can use, and someone who is a sajae and disciple would have an equal chance to be able to use it.
“Now you speak of it. The footwork is a martial art of the Heavenly Demon and one which hasn’t been taught to the Earth Demon yet. So where did you steal that from?”
“…”
Seol-Hwi pondered for a moment at the question, what would be the best answer?
In the past, when the Earth Deon caught him, he was able to lie to Earth Demon about being the disciple to Cheon Miryo.
That was possible because Cheon Miryo was in seclusion. However, the case of the footwork was different now.
This could only be used by the Sect Leader, or those who were liked by him and were taught by him. However, Seol-Hwi had no contact with the Heavenly Demon at any point in time and Sima Ryang was his sajae, so it was unlikely that he would fall for any lie.
“…If there is a connection. I would let you know.”
“Ha, right. I don’t think I would speak so easily to you.”
Srng
Sima Ryang put his hand on his shoulder and slowly moved it. Then came this sharp sound of metal, and the narrow edged sword bared its teeth out.
“Hmm.”
Seol-Hwi frowned at the opponent’s hand which seemed like a weapon now. He did think this would be a bare handed fight, but now he saw that the guy pulled out a sword.
It meant that his true skills had not been shown yet.
Srng
And the sword which was pulled out was an unusual item. The blade was shining like light, and it seemed like a treasured sword made of two to three different types of iron clumped together and forged numerous times.
“I didn’t know that the Third Disciple was capable of recruiting a warrior like you…”
Seol-Hwi sighed.
Sima Ryang was the sajae to the current Heavenly Demon. Which meant he was someone with a lot of fame and name.
“Capable? Warrior? Sounds like just nonsense. I am just one who cannot die.”
However, Sima Ryang had a face which seemed like he wanted a lot to say. It was anger.
“What do you mean?”
“His balance. His understanding. Because he is the damned Sect Leader, I, who couldn’t even die as an old man got dragged out.”
Sima Ryang smiled a bit oddly.
“I, too, have no one to talk to so I end up speaking to someone like you. Just shut up and fight now. Since I pulled out Blood Brings Rest, I need to see blood spill.”
It seemed like this was the name of the sword he drew out, the blade which would not rest till it saw blood.
Dududud
As Sima Ryang raised his sword, the air began to move in an unusual manner.
This.
The ground was shaking and overflowing with the internal energy which was moving like air currents.
I am worried about the martial arts and how he will…
If he got swept away by this martial art, it felt like he would be in a more tough situation than before.
Such a tough opponent among those whom I fought up until now.
Just using the same martial arts as the Sect Leader was too much for him. The most excellent demonic arts in the sect, has to be that of the Sect Leader. And when similar arts clashed, if there was lack of skill, then it would be the cause of defeat.
So Seol-Hwi chose the most familiar and longest known arts.
Shhh
Sima Ryang’s eyes widened at this. It was because a chill began to rise from the sword of Seol-Hwi.
“White Light… no, White Light Body Demonic Martial Arts?”
And sure enough, this time as well, the old man recognized it at once. This made Seol-Hwi a bit uncomfortable for no reason.
“I will handle it this time too.”
Swish!
As Seol-Hwi swung his sword, there was a moment of silence around him. The Time Bond was activated.
“…!”
But the man had noticed it, and his fine internal energy was moving into the air.
Ice Crystals?
Puack!
The ice crystals grew to the size of a fist with white light shining. Not just one or two, but huge ice crystals moved like arrows in the air around them.
Jjjkng!
However, the air flow of Sima Ryang had destroyed them. Since it got blocked so easily, Seol-Hwi bit his lip and continued.
“Under the Moon White Light!”
Another technique under the White Light Arts moved in one after another.
“Huh!”
The face of Sima Ryang hardened seriously. At first glance, it was ice arts with a bright halo-like light.
If someone did not realize it, they would have seen it as a combined power of energy and energy shot, but not for Sima Ryang.
The power of this ice art, due to the unique cold feeling, was more than just energy.
“The moment I receive it, it would move into the body to freeze and burst everything.”
So he swung the sword.
Yes!
On the other hand, Seol-Hwi smiled. Since the opponent raised his sword and fought him, he thought that this fight would be good.
Blocking the ice arts did not mean to entirely block it, either block or break it.
It turned into yin energy and seeped into the body of the opponent. As long as it invaded the body, that was the end.
At least he thought so.
Wheeing-
“…!”
Seol-Hwi was taken aback this time too. The ice arts wrapped around his wrist and his sword, flew back to him.
The arts of the Heavenly Demon. It was a traditional Heavenly Demonic martial arts.
“Euk!”
It was bad. If the attack was fired back with all his strength, it would be impossible to destroy it.
Then.
A thought passed through Seol-Hwi’s head. It was the change.
<Supreme Master ON>
Tomb of Taiji.
He hurriedly changed the stage and used it. The returning ice arts formed at the tip of the Seol-Hwi’s sword moved and exploded.
Bang! Kwaaang!
Pillars of ice rose around. Just in time, the cold air spread over the land and suddenly, like the North Sea, a wall of ice formed.
“Ahhh.”
The expression of Sima Ryang also changed. Due to the situation, he could not get hurt, but this was a bit much. And he managed to know what martial arts Seol-Hwi used.
Which was why he was shocked.
Just a second back he used the Heavenly Demon’s Martial Arts and now he was using Wudang’s Taiji Sword technique?
“You learned the martial arts of Justice Faction? How?”
Sima Ryang looked beyond just interested now.
No matter how strong one was, in order to hold such strength to do what was done before, one needed to have a huge amount of pure energy.
Something different from demonic energy.
“It just ended up happening.”
“Hehehe. You are really an interesting one. Hahaha!”
Thud!
As Sima Ryang stepped on the ground with a loud laugh, the ground shook, and he moved to Seol-Hwi in an instant.
“I will properly deal with you this time.”
Tssss
The air flow vanished like a lie. No, to be precise, it decreased.
His beloved sword too began to form the white light energy around it. Enhanced sword, the best form of energy.
It all amplified along with the air flow and formed a transparent film.
T-that, sword shield!?
Seol-Hwi was shocked.
It was his first time seeing it, and nonetheless, he felt it.
The energy and the faint film around, just how deep was this old man’s internal energy? How could he do this?
“The more we continue, the more fun it is. Let’s see how many more tricks you have!”
Puak!
Seol-Hwi’s face turned pale.
Sima Ryang pulled out a martial arts which was entirely not seen. The sword shield which covered a wide range.
He could not just avoid this now. If it was a sword or arrow attack, Seol-Hwi could defend against it, but how to stop a wave like energy when blocked like this?
There is one way.
Seol-Hwi recalled another special technique.
The essence of Taiji, the Taiji Wisdom Sword, which can be considered the peak of their arts.
