Chapter 856: Ilcheonkyo.

CRACKLE-!! Gu Yangcheon scowled, stomping on something’s head.

He’d punched first and asked questions later, but something felt off.

“What is this now?”

What could it possibly be? It felt… strange. Like indigestion? It was utterly bizarre.

So, he put more strength into it.

SHATTER-!!

The sound of bone breaking echoed.

[Groooaaan–!!]

The scream reached his ears. Seeing that, Gu Yangcheon tilted his head.

“Good durability.”

He’d intended to blow its head off and had put force into it, but it held up well. So, he applied even more strength.

BOOM-!! A gust of wind exploded.

Demonic energy surged like a tempest, wrapping around his body. The force, twice as strong as before, pressed down on the creature’s head.

[Grrrrrrrroooaaaaan—!!]

The creature writhed in agony. That was surprising too. He hadn’t expected it to hold out this long. But then.

SWOOSH-!

An arm flew in, aiming for Gu Yangcheon. Seeing it, he leaped low.

He created distance and narrowed his eyes.

‘It moved its arm at that angle?’

He’d dodged the attack, but the way it attacked was bizarre.

It had bent its arm at an angle it shouldn’t have.

The proof of that was.

[Grrr… this bastard…]

As the creature tried to get up, its left arm was twisted at a grotesque angle.

[Just as I thought… it was you?]

“Hm?”

The monster’s reaction made Gu Yangcheon’s eyes widen slightly. He hadn’t realized it until now, but seeing its face, he thought he knew who it was.

“The Sect Leader of Gyecheon?”

The creature’s identity was the Sect Leader of Gyecheon. Even though his hair had turned white and various parts of his body had changed, Gu Yangcheon could tell.

However.

“What are you?”

His changed appearance was particularly unsettling. Regardless of what had happened, Gu Yangcheon’s instincts were screaming.

“You…”

The feeling he got looking at the Sect Leader of Gyecheon now. Sensing it, Gu Yangcheon’s eyes narrowed intensely.

It was hostility. A hostility that slowly clung to his body, clearer than anything.

And. Such hostility could only mean one thing.

‘A Dragon.’

The Sect Leader of Gyecheon was now a Dragon. It resembled the feeling he got facing the White-grade monster. He could only feel this kind of hostility from his own kind.

Which meant.

‘Is the Sect Leader of Gyecheon a Dragon?’

‘Is that guy originally a Dragon like me?’ He considered it, but Gu Yangcheon immediately rejected the thought.

‘No, he wasn’t a Dragon.’

If he truly were a Dragon, Gu Yangcheon should have sensed it long ago. But he had never felt that way from the Sect Leader of Gyecheon.

‘Does that mean he had a separate ability to hide such senses? No. Gu Yangcheon didn’t think that was it either. It didn’t feel like that.’

‘Besides. If I say he’s just like a Dragon, that’s not quite right either.’

It was subtle. To give an example of the feeling, it was distinctly different from the White-grade monster. If he had to compare…

‘The Princess of the North Sea. Or maybe the Dark King.’

It was similar to the sensation he felt when seeing the Apostle of Oblivion, whose name he couldn’t even recall now, or when facing the Dark King.

This meant.

‘He’s a Half-Dragon.’

The guy wasn’t quite a Dragon, but it was ambiguous to say he wasn’t. So, calling him a Half-Dragon, as the Dark King mentioned, seemed appropriate.

[Huuuuu….]

The creature glared at Gu Yangcheon.

The scales growing on his skin, the vertically slit pupils within his somewhat dull golden eyes. The unique aura emanating from him.

It was definitely the form of a Dragon.

And.

[You… why are you…]

The Sect Leader of Gyecheon also seemed to sense the difference between Gu Yangcheon and others. Gu Yangcheon was certain from that reaction.

‘He didn’t know before.’

‘He hadn’t known until recently, only figuring it out now.’

This also meant he only felt it after becoming a Dragon, implying he was human right up until then.

This raised further questions.

‘How?’

‘How on earth did he become a Dragon? He couldn’t understand that part. Gu Yangcheon looked at the Sect Leader of Gyecheon with a peculiar gaze because of it, but…’

‘No, it doesn’t matter.’

‘It’s pointless. These are not questions to ponder now.’

Gu Yangcheon turned his head from the Sect Leader of Gyecheon to look beside him. Namgung Bi-ah and Wi Seol-ah were there, watching him.

He peered closely at the two with his eyes narrowed.

‘They’re injured.’

Namgung Bi-ah’s condition looked quite bad. She seemed to have lost a lot of blood, her face pale.

Conversely, Wi Seol-ah didn’t seem as injured, but she didn’t appear unscathed either.

Watching them, Gu Yangcheon spoke.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“…!”

“…!”

His chilling tone made both their shoulders jump. They had never heard such a cold voice from him.

“Why do you keep ignoring what I say? Doesn’t my word sound like actual words?”

“…Well…”

“Shut up.”

As Gu Yangcheon spoke with a frown, Namgung Bi-ah bit her lip and fell silent.

“…”

“Stay put in the corner.”

“B-but…”

“I said shut up and stay in the corner. Tend to his bleeding. We’ll talk later.”

Wi Seol-ah, about to protest, was silenced with a single sentence.

Annoyance flared. Gu Yangcheon deliberately ignored them and took a step forward.

The scenery changed.

[Tch!]

Gu Yangcheon had somehow approached right in front of the Sect Leader of Gyecheon.

SNAP-!

He kicked the creature’s knee. With a loud sound, one of the Sect Leader of Gyecheon’s legs collapsed.

[Gahk!]

The Sect Leader of Gyecheon’s eyes widened in pain. He couldn’t even react to the blow.

His body swayed. He tried desperately to maintain his posture, but.

“Your head’s held too high.”

As he spoke, another impact struck the other leg. His knee was driven straight into the ground.

“You insignificant bastard.”

CRUNCH-! His jaw rattled.

“How dare you mess with someone like me.”

CRACKLE-! His head twisted around. It looked like his facial bones had shattered. That wasn’t all.

Impacts landed consecutively on the already broken areas. He was attacking the same spots repeatedly.

The pain doubled. It was clearly intentional. Chosen to inflict greater suffering.

[Nn… Ngh…]

Under the continuous impacts, the Sect Leader of Gyecheon lost his senses.

No matter how he tried to resist, he couldn’t move an inch.

Thus began the one-sided assault.

CRUNCH-! Something broke. RIIIIIP-! Something unidentifiable was torn.

His whole body was engulfed in pain; he didn’t even know what was happening where.

All he could do was endure the pain.

[Grrrrrrr!!]

After writhing like that for a long time, the Sect Leader of Gyecheon…

[Yoooooou Bastard—-!!]

…unleashed a pent-up roar amidst the pain, emitting an aura.

WHIIIIIRRRR—–!! Swords floated up and burrowed towards Gu Yangcheon.

Namgung Bi-ah, who was catching her breath, widened her eyes in surprise.

The speed was completely different from when he fought her. Moreover, the power contained within the swords was easily doubled.

Swords moving at speeds difficult even for the eyes to follow surged towards Gu Yangcheon.

Gu Yangcheon glanced at the swords, then twisted his upper body back and swung his fist, using the power of his waist.

WHOOOOSH—–!! The air tore as something invisible exploded.

It was the Heart Fist (Simgwon).

KWA-AAAAAA—–!!

The swords were swept away by the impact, deviating from their path. Ting-! Ting-! The swords embedded themselves in the wall with clear ringing sounds and fell.

Seeing that, the Sect Leader of Gyecheon let out a groan. Just then.

A single sword, unaffected by the gale, was visible high up near the ceiling. It had flown high due to the impact, perhaps, but hadn’t fallen.

Had he not noticed? The moment he saw it, the Sect Leader of Gyecheon immediately poured power into the sword.

SWIIIIIIIIIIIIISH——-!!

The sword plunged rapidly. Even then, Gu Yangcheon was still looking elsewhere.

If it continued like this, it could pierce him straight through the crown of his head.

The empowered sword soon reached Gu Yangcheon’s crown, but.

“I’ve thought this for a while.”

At that moment, Gu Yangcheon whispered.

“Your moves are always so predictable.”

He spoke and moved. He casually reached out his hand into the air.

SWOOSH–!!

[…What!?]

The sword falling towards Gu Yangcheon suddenly trembled, then spun! It rotated its tip.

It wasn’t the tip falling, but the hilt.

[Something so impossible–!!]

The Sect Leader of Gyecheon exclaimed in dismay. It was a sword held by his unique martial art. It was different from simply moving a sword with telekinesis, yet Gu Yangcheon effortlessly snatched the Sect Leader of Gyecheon’s sword manipulation away.

Meaning he had completely taken over the control.

Thump.

The Sect Leader of Gyecheon’s sword fell into Gu Yangcheon’s grasp.

SHING——-!!

Gu Yangcheon grabbed it and slashed the Sect Leader of Gyecheon.

[Guhk….]

A deep sword mark appeared, pushing the Sect Leader of Gyecheon’s body back.

He seemed about to fall. He would have fallen even if left alone, but Gu Yangcheon stuck his foot out towards the stumbling Sect Leader of Gyecheon.

WHAM-!! A powerful kick sent the Sect Leader of Gyecheon flying back, hitting the wall and slumping down.

[Guh… ack….]

He hit the floor and spat out a mouthful of blood.

His eyes were filled not only with pain but also with doubt.

[How… how is it possible.]

His expression still showed incomprehension. How on earth had Gu Yangcheon taken his sword? That question burned brighter than his own pain.

“Hm?”

Perhaps sensing the question, Gu Yangcheon spoke to the Sect Leader of Gyecheon with lowered, half-closed eyes.

“You just do it, so why look so surprised?”

[Just… do it?]

As if shocked, the Sect Leader of Gyecheon trembled.

His disbelief was evident.

And Gu Yangcheon, seemingly uninterested in that gaze, merely examined the Sect Leader of Gyecheon.

“Your regeneration seems fast.”

His body, which had been half-pulverized, was gradually recovering.

Judging by the speed alone, its recovery seemed faster than his own body’s, though still far inferior compared to Oblivion.

“Was your strength always this much? Hmm, I haven’t fought you before, so I don’t know. What do you think?”

[…What are you talking about?]

“You don’t know? That’s fine then.”

‘Because I can find out myself.’

Finishing his words, Gu Yangcheon moved once more.

---

Gu Yangcheon advanced, heat burning in his eyes.

Seeing him, the Sect Leader of Gyecheon hastily got up.

He reached out and pulled a sword towards him. It flew quickly and landed in his hand.

His body moved like a whirlwind.

His enhanced strength allowed him to imbue the sword with a different power than before.

[Tch!]

‘Gyejinryeongbiseong Sword.’ The unique sword technique of the Gyecheon Sect carved a path through the air.

It was certainly much more powerful than when he fought barehanded.

CRACKLE-! The sword grazed the ground, scattering sparks. The ground remained unscratched by the Sect Leader of Gyecheon’s blade.

Gu Yangcheon stomped the ground to charge. BOOM—!! The ground cracked under the impact.

Seeing that, the Sect Leader of Gyecheon scowled.

This, too, he couldn’t comprehend.

The space that should have been indestructible was being broken so casually by that guy.

Moreover.

CLANG-!

The Sect Leader of Gyecheon’s sword was knocked away by Gu Yangcheon’s fist.

It hit the flat of the blade precisely.

The resulting recoil was unimaginably strong.

[How could this young brat….]

He was barely past the age of adulthood. Gu Yangcheon’s strength was evident from their few encounters, but fighting him directly surpassed all expectations.

[To be pushed back even after accepting the meaning of the Venerable One (Jonja)…?]

He had accepted the Venerable One’s will and embodied it. Therefore, he should have transcended humanity long ago.

[Damn you…!!]

That he, himself, was being pushed back by this young brat.

He couldn’t believe it.

No.

The Sect Leader of Gyecheon, moments away from despair, changed his thoughts in an instant.

‘That guy too….’

‘It’s not just me; he’s the same. This changed body has revealed much, and he could tell that Gu Yangcheon was similar.’

‘He’s not an ordinary human. Noble and lofty. A great being.’

But.

‘Why….’

As if similarity didn’t mean equality, the Sect Leader of Gyecheon’s instincts told him one more thing.

‘Bow your head. That is not a being one should dare to look upon.’

An inexplicable fear and reverence settled upon him.

‘Even when looking at that woman beside him, the descendant of the Sword God, he’d felt a sliver of this, but seeing Gu Yangcheon… it was incomparable.’

‘…What are you–!’

WHACK-! His knee slammed into the Sect Leader’s face. The Sect Leader’s head snapped back, spitting blood into the air.

Gu Yangcheon found the oft-repeated question tiresome now.

Utterly weary of it, Gu Yangcheon said.

“What business is it of yours?”

‘Especially since you’re about to die.’