Chapter 461: Change (Change)

Rumble-!

From the blackened, scorched dark clouds, a massive lightning strike descends.

Boom-! Boom-boom-!

Lightning strikes, enough to make one tingle just looking at them, were pouring down not just once, but multiple times in succession.

Every time the lightning struck the ground, trees and rocks alike were shattered into pieces, invariably devastating the surroundings.

The dry, twisted trees of Sichuan were bursting into flames from the recoil of the lightning.

Amidst such chaotic circumstances, the old man continued to swing his sword.

Swish, swish-swish-!

The sword flew through the air incessantly.

A speed so fast that an ordinary person wouldn’t even be able to confirm the movements.

Countless slashes were unleashed every second, and simultaneously, lightning was also pouring down endlessly.

Rumble-! Rumble-rumble-!

The smell of burnt gunpowder was thick. It was the stench of flesh burning deeply.

Even feeling that, the old man did not stop.

Thus, the flashes continued to pour down relentlessly.

By the time the old man finally stopped his sword, only blackened, burnt wasteland remained.

“…”

The master of the lightning, the last of the Namgung, Cheonjun, sheathed his sword, suppressing a slight hint of exhaustion.

By continuously pouring lightning onto a single spot, it felt like the abundant inner energy had diminished somewhat.

Catching his breath, Cheonjun gazed at one particular spot.

Within the blackened, scorched world, there was a place that stood out exceptionally.

The ground was melted and simmering, and due to the overwhelming lightning energy, its aftereffects still lingered.

Cheonjun glared beyond the smoke filling the surroundings, his brow furrowed.

As he stared intently for a moment, a wriggling presence was felt within the smoke.

“Tsk.”

Confirming this, Cheonjun clicked his tongue briefly. At the same time, he swung his sword sharply.

Whooosh-!

A gust of wind surged following the swung sword.

It was to clear away the smoke.

Swept away by the wind created by Cheonjun, the smoke vanished, revealing the hidden ground.

Something was slumped down onto the melted, boiling ground.

A body stained black like the ground and flames burning on it were visible.

‘Still.’

That blue flame hasn’t gone out yet.

Looking at ‘that thing,’ which was breathing heavily with its body limply hanging as if unconscious, Cheonjun furrowed his brow.

Furthermore, he had to express his disgust.

What on earth could that be?

‘How bizarre.’

No matter how much he looked, he couldn’t understand.

Even after having its arms severed, its legs cut off, being scorched by lightning, and subjected to all sorts of torment.

The body of the one Cheonjun was looking at now was perfectly intact.

It was because it regenerated without any issue.

He had cut it countless times, yet its body returned to its original state.

How could that be possible?

‘What is its identity?’

It was ambiguous to call it a monster, and impossible to call it human.

He tried hard to figure out its identity, but even that failed.

Strange and bizarre.

That was how Cheonjun’s gaze fell upon it.

To be so unharmed after taking so much lightning. It was an incredibly tenacious one.

However.

Sring.

Cheonjun thought, vibrating the tip of his sword.

Although it seemed hopeless as it regenerated endlessly no matter how many times it was cut, Cheonjun realized it had a weakness.

While it endured all other attacks, there was a part it particularly tried to avoid and protect,

‘The neck.’

It was the neck.

During the fight, it tried to protect its neck by covering it.

Seeing that, the weakness must surely be the neck.

Also.

Its left chest had a gaping hole, completely empty.

That was likely the mark of Cheonjun having stabbed its heart.

Though he didn’t know why it remained in that state.

Grrrrr….

A low growl like a beast’s.

At the sound piercing his ears, Cheonjun changed his stance.

It’s coming.

Kyahhh-!

The thing that had been catching its breath roared ferociously and charged at Cheonjun again.

Still fast.

The blue flames erupting from its back split at the tips, dividing in all directions to pressure Cheonjun.

Seeing that, Cheonjun scowled.

Just looking at it made his shoulder throb.

‘That flame is the problem.’

The wound he took from it just moments ago still ached.

It wasn’t just aching.

Immediately after being hit on the shoulder, his arm wouldn’t move, as if paralyzed.

Even trying to loosen it with inner energy or move using it was futile. It was stiff as if turned to stone.

It wouldn’t loosen.

What could be the reason for this?

Whooosh-!

The flame grazed past Cheonjun’s side.

It grazed him only slightly, but Cheonjun immediately felt his body become heavy.

Feeling that, he clicked his tongue.

‘Annoying.’

In the first place, it was unthinkable for him to be grazed by such an attack.

There must surely be something wrong with that flame.

Throb.

Feeling his shoulder, which was experiencing pain, he contorted his face.

This seemed to be the biggest problem.

Drip….

Blood flowed from his shoulder, dripping down to his fingertips.

He tried to stop the bleeding somehow using his inner energy, but it was no use.

“You bastard.”

Kiiing.

He raised a brilliant sword aura and heightened his fighting spirit.

The sight of himself struggling against such a foe was truly pathetic.

What would Wi Hyogung have said if he saw this? He would surely have laughed.

What would that bastard Paejon have said?

Would he have seen it as pathetic?

Crack-

Kiiiiing-!

The sword’s name echoed incessantly from Cheonjun’s sword.

“Grrrrr…!”

Along with the growl, the assault continued.

As if not getting tired, it didn’t stop moving.

Klang-!

It was too rough a sound to be merely the fingertips and sword colliding.

Cheonjun pushed the attack away. The creature stumbled back slightly. Not missing the chance, he swung his sword.

Swoosh-!

“Kyahhhk!”

Its wrist was severed, and the creature screamed.

He readjusted his grip on the hilt. Just as he was about to slash into its chest.

Fwoosh-!

“…!”

He saw flames gathering in the creature’s gaping mouth.

Seeing that, Cheonjun quickly moved. The moment he twisted his body to create distance.

Kwahahahaha-!

The flames spewed from its mouth engulfed the spot where Cheonjun had been.

Immense heat.

‘Well now.’

Watching the heat fill the air, Cheonjun curled the corners of his mouth.

He was certain.

That is a monster. It couldn’t be like this unless it was a monster.

‘Is it a monster disguised as a human?’

Even when Cheonjun first dealt with a Red Demon, it wasn’t this difficult.

Just pouring in inner energy was enough, but this one was even more so.

Seeing its constantly regenerating body and immense fiery energy, it was hard to see it as human.

Wouldn’t it be more accurate to consider it a new type or rank of monster?

A Rank 100 monster, spoken of only in legends.

If such a creature appeared, this must be how it felt, Cheonjun thought to himself.

If not, he shouldn’t be struggling this much.

He definitely shouldn’t.

“Kyahhh!”

A roar is heard.

Cheonjun slashed his sword diagonally downwards.

Rumble-!

Lightning struck from the air, binding the creature’s feet.

“Kruaaaa!”

Hit by the lightning, its body burned intensely as it screamed.

In response, Cheonjun observed it. Then, he nodded briefly.

This much should be enough.

Sring.

As Cheonjun adjusted his stance, his aura changed.

And then.

In his mind, a sword flashed sharply.

No, not sharp. It had become dulled and worn out due to the affliction of his inner demons.

For now, this much is sufficient.

Even if his movements had slowed and his inner energy had somewhat decreased.

Cheonjun didn’t even consider the possibility of defeat.

He had only sought information about the creature he didn’t know until now.

“Kyahhhahhh!”

While it thrashed against the lightning, roaring loudly.

Cheonjun’s sword edge and body aligned perfectly. This single strike was not in the realm of inner energy or cultivation.

It was purely in the realm of enlightenment as a swordsman.

A sword embodying the enlightenment of an old man who had trained his sword as a genius of the century throughout his life.

At best, it was obvious that a mere creature disguised as a human couldn’t handle it.

‘The games end here.’

The fact that he had been hit even once was painful, but Cheonjun intended to forget it for a moment.

Because now was not the time to deal with that creature.

Cheonjun’s last blood relative, lying alone at the base of a tree with eyes closed.

The old man had unfinished business with her.

Kyahahahahaha-!!

Aiming at the creature’s neck, which was screaming incessantly, Cheonjun closed his eyes.

As he closed his eyes, a thick darkness descended. Within that pervasive darkness, Cheonjun found a single ray of light.

He could see it. Though blurred by his inner demons, a beam of light was clearly visible.

A point visible only when his eyes were closed.

Cheonjun slowly drew his sword towards that spot.

Then, Cheonjun’s arm trembled violently.

This was especially true because the power was unleashed based solely on his mind’s mirror (Shimgyeong).

Kuuung-!

At that moment, the clouds in the sky were sliced in a straight line, and light burst forth.

The sky opens.

The light flying through the opened sky resembled a semi-transparent sword.

A sword that seemed to have a dull edge and some rust.

Its presence inspired awe just by looking at it.

The light gradually began to fall towards the bizarre creature.

If it hit the ground directly like this, it possessed enough power to obliterate not just the neck, but the entire surrounding area.

Cheonjun aimed for that instead.

He considered the possibility that the neck might not be the weakness, and planned a way to erase that regenerative power all at once.

Immediately after casting the martial art, Cheonjun slowly opened his eyes.

Afterward, he took a breath while watching the light falling from the sky.

“It’s over.”

He was sure.

He had used the ultimate secret technique of the Mind Sword, based on extreme enlightenment.

Cheonjun had only ever seen two people withstand this until now.

One was the Sword Master.

The other was the Heavenly Demon.

Unless it was one of those two, it was impossible to withstand this power. Cheonjun was certain.

And so.

Kwoooong-!

The light slowly descending from the sky landed precisely on the spot Cheonjun had targeted.

Kwahahahahahaha–!!

A roar erupted, and smoke shot high into the sky.

Shattered debris covered the surroundings. The blast wave exploded, causing dry trees to tilt as if about to be uprooted.

An immense impact.

Watching the erupting energy, Cheonjun turned his back.

It was over. If it took a blow of that magnitude, it surely couldn’t have survived.

He would have to head that way later to find traces, but.

Cheonjun prioritized killing the Sword-Demon Empress more.

He would kill that child quickly and find peace.

He had received permission for that.

Yes, permission.

Cheonjun had received permission.

Permission to enter the land of Sichuan, kill the young man, and kill the Sword-Demon Empress…

Halt.

Cheonjun, who had been walking, suddenly stopped.

Because he felt a dizzying sensation in his head.

‘…From whom?’

From whom did he receive such permission? Just who did he receive permission from?

The memory almost surfaced, but it didn’t.

“Ugh…!”

Cheonjun clutched his forehead, groaning. He had a feeling he had forgotten something, but nothing came to mind.

It was as if someone had intentionally taken a portion of his memory.

“…What… on earth is this.”

Just as Cheonjun was about to express his pain regarding his condition.

Rustle.

“…!”

Sensing an energy he hadn’t expected, Cheonjun looked back. The old man’s face was filled with shock.

‘What…?’

Why could he feel an energy?

That area is where the ultimate technique of the Mind Sword struck. No life energy should be felt there.

Vvum-

Cheonjun gripped his sword tightly once more.

It wasn’t a mistake.

The energy was still being felt.

‘It withstood this?’

No way, it withstood that power? It’s impossible.

If it even withstood this, it would be more fitting to call it immortal (Busa).

As Cheonjun frowned and looked over there.

Fwoosh.

The flame from earlier was felt.

Fwoosh-!

The blue flame reignited in the distance.

Cheonjun steeled himself regarding the unfolding situation.

It seems it truly didn’t work.

‘It’s truly annoying.’

If it’s like this, I’ll have to burn it completely with full power. Just as he resolved this and was gathering his energy,

“…Life…”

“…?”

“…is truly fucking bullshit.”

Unexpected profanity burst forth from within the flames.

“Damn it. I even found a place for it to shit, and now it’s even asking me to wipe its ass. This is why they say you shouldn’t take in beasts with black hair….”

“…”

Cheonjun frowned at the somewhat rustic tone.

What is this? What situation is this?

Holding back his surprise, he looked towards the source of the voice.

Thump.

Something was walking towards him with slow steps.

It was the silhouette from earlier.

So it was alive after all. Does that mean this voice belongs to that creature?

Its appearance wasn’t much different from before.

It was still covered in something black, resembling a shadow.

The only difference was that the hole in its chest was now closed,

And the flames weren’t blazing enough to cover its entire body.

Watching the creature trudge towards him, Cheonjun asked.

“…What exactly are you.”

What is your identity that you show such a bizarre appearance?

Cheonjun asked, filled with such questions.

Hearing him, the creature glanced at Cheonjun and then spoke.

“You’ve got the same rotten attitude as that guy Myung-i.”

“…?”

It began uttering words Cheonjun couldn’t understand.

Whether Cheonjun understood or not.

The silhouette simply spoke with a voice tinged with laughter.

“Since your face is so unlucky.”

Fwoosh. Flames bloomed around the creature.

Is it my imagination?

For some reason, the spreading embers resembled flower petals.

“You look like you’ll be fun to beat up.”