Chapter 419: Tuamugwon.

Kuwung-! With a heavy roar, the massive body flies through the air.

“Gkeuk!”

Dangdeok let out a groan, desperately trying to regain his posture as he landed on the ground.

Afterwards, he scanned the front with a bewildered gaze.

Seeing it, Dangdeok’s eyes widened in surprise. He also scanned his surroundings. Something felt strangely off.

The small and large stars floating in the sky had vanished.

As the brightly shining stars disappeared, a silent darkness descended upon the forest.

Silence.

The insects, which had been making sounds without anyone noticing, all held their breath.

Dangdeok heightened his senses at the sudden silence.

He instinctively realized just how dangerous the current silence was.

‘What is this?’

He could immediately tell it was an artificially created situation, but…

…he needed to confirm what had happened.

First.

‘I’ll break through it with force.’

Just as Dangdeok gathered his momentum and prepared to swing his spear…

“…!”

He immediately felt the anomaly.

‘Heavy.’

Moving his body felt heavy. Furthermore, he felt a slight awkwardness in exerting his strength.

Could this be due to the unknown energy permeating the surroundings?

Ggeudeuk!

Dangdeok gritted his teeth and swung his spear with all his might.

Even with his body restricted, his strength was not weak.

Hwoooong-!

The spear tip, imbued with internal energy, swung fiercely.

The contained Ganggi took on sharp forms and burst outwards in all directions.

Kwaddeudeuk-! Trees forming the landscape were seen being sliced off in chunks.

Even amidst this, Dangdeok’s eyes moved swiftly.

Because he had to find them.

The culprit who created this situation.

‘Where are you? Just where are you?’

He tried to search, but in reality, there was no need to go out of his way.

The opponent showed no intention of hiding in the first place.

I see them.

Hwarureuk….

Over there, in the dense darkness, a black flame burns alone.

A menacing and immense presence announcing its location.

‘Ha.’

Dangdeok had to laugh hollowly upon seeing the flame. How absurd.

‘They said he was a once-in-a-generation talent; does that mean it’s true?’

How could that be the presence of a mere youngster who hasn’t even reached adulthood?

With his hands clasped behind his back, enveloped in black flames all over his body, Gu Yangcheon’s appearance watching Dangdeok was anything but small.

Though they were black flames, they emitted a brilliant light, just like other flames.

However, despite their splendor, the malevolence contained within was far from holy.

Why was he emitting such flames?

It was merely flame, yet Dangdeok questioned if he was instinctively feeling fear.

Furthermore, if there was a difference from when he first saw him, it was that the black pupils were glowing with a purplish hue,

and the whites of his eyes, which should have been white, were stained black.

‘…Just what are you?’

That unnatural appearance and the presence that made one tremble just by looking.

Just what kind of being is that?

‘Heavenly Demon.’

The words Soyomra had casually uttered about his identity.

Cheonma (天魔). Does it mean a demon sent by the heavens?

It didn’t seem like a mere alias, so why had Soyomra spoken of him like that?

Meanwhile, Dangdeok thought those words suited Soyomra perfectly.

Looking at him now, he was no different from a demon.

Dangdeok recalled.

For some reason, a phrase kept surfacing in his mind.

The existence Dangbiseong had so desperately yearned for.

Heavenly Martial Constitution.

The overwhelming talent of being the youngest to reach the Mastery Realm. The imposing aura that never feared enemies, and the presence that crushed opponents.

If this wasn’t the monstrous talent Dangbiseong so desired, then what was it?

Ggeudeuk.

Dangdeok had to grind his teeth at such thoughts.

Unknowingly, he had thought, ‘If I were like him, perhaps I wouldn’t have been abandoned.’

His goal was to exterminate the Sachundang family, a family deserving of being torn limb from limb.

Until there were no more Dangs in the world. Dangdeok had such a purpose, yet…

…did lingering regret and attachment still remain?

‘Snap out of it.’

Dangdeok focused his gaze and aimed his spear tip at the flames.

‘I’ll kill them all.’

It doesn’t matter if he’s a demon or the Cheonmu Body.

It’s not important how he found out about that matter either.

What matters is solely that this guy is nothing more than an obstacle hindering my revenge.

If something blocks my path, I shall break through it and move on.

This was the strength he had cultivated for that very purpose.

Kung-!

The spear blade cut through the air.

Ganggi wrapped around the blade, gradually taking on a green hue.

This light had nothing to do with poison techniques.

It was merely, damn it, a trace of the Tang family remaining within Dangdeok’s body.

The spear, imbued with such energy, was thrust forward, creating an elegant curve.

Martial Dragon Qi Spear (氣龍武正槍).

It was the most basic spear technique used by the Martial Alliance.

Among spear techniques, it was the easiest to find and simplest to learn.

It was the only martial art Dangdeok learned. It was a spear technique he had to learn to survive, the only one he could.

Having only this, he had to hone it more desperately.

Eventually, he even reached the Mastery Realm with this spear technique.

Reaching the Mastery Realm with a common technique that made advancing one’s level difficult.

This showed just how exceptional Dangdeok’s physique was.

Gu Yangcheon, watching this, finally moved his body.

Tang-!

“…!”

He struck the incoming spearhead with his fist, changing its trajectory. He showed no hesitation in exploiting the rough movement.

Dangdeok was momentarily flustered but quickly spun his body, correcting the spear’s path.

That brief moment created.

Gu Yangcheon didn’t miss it, closing in on Dangdeok and throwing a punch.

Black Wolf Fang.

A flame shaped like a wolf erupted from his fingertips towards Dangdeok.

Kwaaaaaaa-!

An overwhelming blaze shot forward, engulfing a wide area.

The area instantly turned into a fiery mess, but Gu Yangcheon’s gaze wasn’t forward; it was fixed on the side.

He opened his palm.

Instantly, the heat condensed into his palm.

The gradually condensing heat transformed into the shape of a sphere.

It was like the Flame Jade he used before, but black in color, with a much clearer form and a subtle vibration.

Rotation.

Gu Yangcheon hadn’t forgotten the teachings his father had passed down.

Indeed, focusing on the meaning of ‘rotation’ seemed to slightly strengthen the technique’s power.

Gu Yangcheon recalled this and scanned the front.

Dangdeok was nowhere to be felt in the area still burning with black flames.

Unlike his massive physique, he had quickly evaded.

Where did he go? Gu Yangcheon didn’t ponder.

If you don’t know where they are, you just destroy everywhere you suspect they might be.

Gu Yangcheon gripped the Flame Jade formed in his palm and threw it onto the ground without hesitation.

Woong-! The Flame Jade touched the ground, emitting a short vibration, and then…

Guaaaaaaaa-!

It unleashed tremendous heat, beginning to sweep the surroundings.

Along with the erupting black flames, the explosive wind pressure spiraling outwards was extraordinary.

Nearby trees were uprooted and swept away by the wind.

Immediately after, they were engulfed by the flames and burned black.

A moment passed after such an explosion. When the brief typhoon subsided…

Gu Yangcheon stood in his original spot and surveyed the surroundings.

Everything except the spot where he stood had been scorched earth.

And then. Not far away, a giant holding a spear was visible, kneeling on one knee and looking at Gu Yangcheon.

“Hoo… hoo…”

Perhaps because Dangdeok had activated his protective Ganggi, the damage didn’t seem severe,

but judging by his ragged breaths, it wasn’t negligible.

Gu Yangcheon inwardly felt quite surprised upon confirming this.

‘Just as I feared.’

His level might be lower than Heukryonggeom’s, but…

…his resistance to demonic energy was higher than Heukryonggeom’s.

Gu Yangcheon attributed this to the demonic creature’s blood within him, and it seemed correct.

‘Hmm.’

Troublesome.

If he has resistance to demonic energy, it might cause problems later when trying to corrupt him into a demon.

That would be quite problematic.

Moreover, he could also see that Dangdeok’s movements were gradually becoming faster.

Could he be getting used to it?

‘My demonic energy?’

Thinking so, he stimulated the demonic energy within the man.

Instantly, the demonic energy in Dangdeok’s dantian stirred and rampaged.

Did he sense the energy? Dangdeok’s own energy could be felt resisting it.

Seeing that, his prediction seemed correct.

It seemed Gu Yangcheon wasn’t the only one sensing something amiss, as Dangdeok lifted his kneeling knee and patted his stomach.

Hmph, perhaps feeling slightly more comfortable, Dangdeok smirked and spoke.

“It doesn’t seem like poison.”

“And why do you think that?”

“If it were poison, I wouldn’t be recovering this easily.”

As Dangdeok had zero resistance to poison, poison rather than demonic energy would have been a critical hit, but…

…he hadn’t expected the demonic creature’s blood to play such a role.

“I admit it. Soyomra.”

“…What?”

“You are strong. It’s astonishing. To possess such power at your age…”

“Get to the point.”

Hearing the question, Dangdeok laughed fiercely.

“I know enough from that. You’re still weak. At least, weaker than me.”

“…”

Hwoong-! He swung his spear briefly, and the wind pressure spread out.

The black flames nearby were swept away and vanished in the gust.

He had to admit it.

He had known Dangdeok was stronger than him from the start.

If the demonic energy started becoming less effective, it was a crisis for Gu Yangcheon.

He could pour out more demonic energy if he wished, but that carried its own burden.

For a martial artist of that level, considerable energy was needed, but Dangdeok required even more, making the fight harder the longer it dragged on.

Gu Yangcheon knew this too.

“Didn’t I tell you? Don’t get cocky. Brat, are you going to beg now?”

Dangdeok, too, would surely know this.

Although Dangdeok had initially reacted with flustered anger, after assessing the situation, he quickly began to show a confident demeanor.

Because the odds had started to turn in his favor.

Gu Yangcheon let out a slight puff of air upon confirming this.

It was an unexpected situation, certainly a crisis, but…

…for some reason, he wasn’t worried or greatly swayed emotionally.

He merely thought inwardly that it was a bit regrettable.

‘My method doesn’t work.’

He knew his fighting style wasn’t effective.

So then.

What about a different approach?

As soon as he thought this, he reduced the size of the Nine Flame Wheel Technique.

“Hm?”

Dangdeok couldn’t help but smirk at Gu Yangcheon’s shrinking flames.

“What, did you give up…!”

Just as he was about to taunt, Dangdeok raised his spear, gathering his momentum again.

Because something he felt from Gu Yangcheon had changed.

‘What is it?’

What he felt moments ago remained.

It was still menacing, and the immense presence was still palpable, but…

…something was covering it. No, perhaps it was being supported from below?

He didn’t know. What was certain was that something was changing.

Tuduk.

Seeing Dangdeok trying to figure out the situation, Gu Yangcheon moved slightly as if loosening up.

‘It hurts.’

He thought it might be getting better, but it still hurt like hell.

Gu Yangcheon was now using one more new energy.

He had filled his heart with demonic energy.

He had wrapped his body in the Nine Flame Wheel Technique.

And he had layered the internal energy of the Tuapa Heavenly Dance all over his body.

Paejon’s face, who had told him never to use this in actual combat, flashed in his mind, but Gu Yangcheon decided to forget it for a moment.

Doing this hurt terribly.

That was his first impression.

Yet, perhaps because it was a sensation he’d been accustomed to for the past few months, he felt rather comfortable.

Had he grown accustomed to the pain?

Or accustomed to the energy?

He didn’t know which, but either way, it was comfortable.

‘Can I use three without issue?’

The reason he was moving his body slightly was this.

He had used two before, but never three simultaneously, so he worried if it might be too much? Contrary to that concern,

…there were no problems yet.

The only difference was that an unknown fighting spirit began to boil.

Gu Yangcheon observed Dangdeok in front of him.

The man seemed to have noticed the energy of the Tuapa Heavenly Dance too, watching him cautiously.

‘His intuition is quite good.’

It was an invisible change, yet he noticed it and tensed up. Recalling this, Gu Yangcheon took a step forward.

His body heated up, but his mind cooled down.

As if the fighting spirit rising in his body was irrelevant, his vision remained cold and clear.

Why was there such a change?

Was this also an effect of the Tuapa Heavenly Dance?

He somehow felt that wasn’t it.

‘Whatever it is, it doesn’t matter.’

For now, leaving that aside, he had to focus on the opponent before him.

Dangdeok watched the slowly approaching Gu Yangcheon warily.

Because his movements seemed full of openings, and he didn’t know what he would do.

Moreover, an unknown sense of strangeness kept triggering his instincts.

‘What is it?’

Just how many surprising things was he going to show?

His bizarre appearance and energy were already strange, but something else was added.

The moment Dangdeok swallowed dryly at that incomprehensible change…

…Gu Yangcheon vanished before Dangdeok’s eyes.

“…!”

Dangdeok immediately moved his body.

His spear swung.

Dangdeok had lost sight of Gu Yangcheon, but not his presence.

His presence was clearly to the side…

Tuung-!

“Gkeuk!?”

His presence was to the side, but Dangdeok let out a choked gasp as a fist suddenly burrowed into his abdomen.

What the? A vibration echoed through his body. Fortunately, it wasn’t unbearable.

Dangdeok didn’t lose his stance and unleashed his spear technique at Gu Yangcheon, but…

Tuk-!

Gu Yangcheon reached out just before Dangdeok’s move unfolded and altered the spear technique’s path.

The difference was minuscule, but the result was significant.

Hwaaak-!

The moment the slight difference occurred, the internal energy flowing through his body scattered.

The incomplete movement created an opening.

“What the-!”

This is impossible…!

Dangdeok exclaimed in disbelief and immediately tried to create distance from Gu Yangcheon.

Tuk.

Gu Yangcheon was faster.

A small fist, compared to Dangdeok’s massive body, touched his chest.

Light.

It was merely like placing a fist against his chest. Yet, Dangdeok knew.

That something was happening at the tip of this small fist.

Woowoong….

At first, it was a small wave.

A very small wave, mixed with flames from the fingertip as if being passed over, seeped into Dangdeok’s body.

The wave was kind and gentle, as if it would cause no harm at all.

However, that was only for a moment.

As Dangdeok’s body moved slightly away from Gu Yangcheon, the wave immediately revealed its true nature.

Geugeugeugeugeuk-! Kwagagagagak-!

“Gyaaaaaaa!”

The vibration, instantly increasing in magnitude, turned Dangdeok’s insides upside down.

Unknown heat mixed with the vibration, adding to the agony.

Kung Kung Kung Kung-!

It unleashed dozens of violent vibrations per second, and as if unable to bear being inside the stifling body, the vibrations escaped outwards from Dangdeok’s body.

Kwaaaaaaa-!

The energy bursting from Dangdeok’s body assaulted the wilderness behind him.

The wind pressure mixed with heat surged forward violently, and soon after, it carved a wide trail behind Dangdeok’s back.

Then, as the aftershocks of the vibration ended and the roar subsided…

Teolseok….

Dangdeok collapsed onto his knees.

His eyes rolled back; he had clearly lost consciousness.

And then.

His massive body slowly fell to the ground.

Kung-!

As Dangdeok finally collapsed unconscious,

“…Keuhuk.”

Gu Yangcheon, as if waiting, spat out blood.

Tuduk! Blood dripped onto the ground.

The first form of the Tuapa Heavenly Dance.

The backlash from using Tuamu Fist (鬪牙無拳) was arriving.

His consciousness wavered.

Due to the recoil, his vital energy became distorted, and his internal energy began to move erratically.

‘Damn.’

He felt like he could collapse at any moment.

The ruined energy would eventually be fixed by the Tuapa Heavenly Dance, but losing consciousness now would be problematic.

Because Dangdeok wasn’t dead yet.

His insides might have been overturned, but he was still alive.

If Dangdeok were to wake up first in this state, Gu Yangcheon would be in a dangerous situation.

Thinking this, he tried desperately to hold onto his consciousness, but the overwhelming pain finally pushed Gu Yangcheon to his limit.

Finally, letting go of the consciousness he was clinging to and about to fall to the ground…

Tuk.

Suddenly, someone appeared and supported Gu Yangcheon, preventing him from falling.

“Haa…”

The person supporting him let out a deep sigh as if thoroughly displeased, muttering with a mix of exasperation:

“Took on a disciple late in my years, and he’s quite the lunatic…. Tsk, tsk.”

It was Paejon.