CHAPTER 517: EPILOGUE EARTH DEMON (14)

Ilsoo had poor eyesight since childhood.

Although he inherited a congenital disability from his parents, the bigger reason was that he did not have proper meals.

Born into a poor family, he was always hungry, and as a result, malnutrition worsened his eye condition.

As he grew older, his eyesight deteriorated further, and before he turned ten, he became blind.

But as they say, misfortune often brings opportunity.

Even after losing his sight, he could still see faintly.

He could even see things others could not.

He saw smoke-like wisps rising from people’s bodies, blue light beams emanating from trees and grass, and even the paths the wind took.

“You have excellent talent. Will you follow me?”

One day, Ilsoo met an unknown middle-aged man on a small bridge at the outskirts of the village.

The man wearing a black robe was different from others.

Around him swirled a deep golden aura, which appeared mysterious to Ilsoo’s eyes.

“If you come there, you will no longer starve. I will provide your parents with enough food for life.”

“I will follow you.”

Ilsoo found more comfort in the promise that he and his family would no longer starve than in anything else.

Thus, he was led by the middle-aged man into the Demonic Cult.

A new world welcomed him with towering mountains, deep valleys, and magnificent buildings he had never seen before.

“Ah, this child has amazing abilities!”

Ilsoo was assigned to a special training institution within the cult and stood out there as well.

He instinctively read the flow of qi that others took years to learn and could even manipulate it at will.

He later learned that this ability was called ‘supernatural power.’

Ilsoo was born with the ‘mind’s eye,’ which could only be obtained by martial artists who reached the stages of Transformation or Divine Sword Unity.

It was both an innate gift and a curse.

The Black Claw Group was one of the secret units trained by the Cult Leader. As the name Black Claw suggests, it was a group hiding sharp claws in the darkness.

Ilsoo caught the Cult Leader’s eye and was chosen to join this group.

He served there for ten years, earning the nickname ‘Ink River of the Sword,’ and later became the leader of the group.

‘The immortal sword spirit, Geom-rin, is struggling so much…’

His right-hand man, Geom-rin, possessed an immortal divine body.

At least with his abilities, he was judged capable of activating the Cult Leader’s Fourth Disciple’s power of Heavenly Killing Star.

Geom-rin’s immortal body could withstand any attack, and his swordsmanship was among the sharpest in the cult.

‘What am I seeing right now?’

But soon, his vision revealed a shocking scene.

The Cult Leader’s disciple Earth Demon used power beyond the Peak Demon level to subdue Geom-rin.

It was as fierce as lightning in a storm, piercing Geom-rin’s body instantly.

Ilsoo tried to read the opponent’s qi with his mind’s eye, but it was so overwhelming that it made him dizzy.

‘What is this…’

In the end, the Cult Leader’s disciple even shattered Geom-rin’s divine body, driving him to death.

‘It might not be the Heavenly Killing Star.’

Later, when the Sky-Breaker Pa Chun appeared, Ink River began to doubt the information he had.

It was common knowledge that when one unleashes power beyond Peak Demon, the Heavenly Killing Star’s restriction is lifted.

Old books and secret archives of the cult confirmed this.

At best, reaching the Peak Demon realm causes the Heavenly Killing Star to explode all energy uncontrollably—It was a curse that could not be avoided.

‘Who on earth is that man…’

Ink Demon’s mind’s eye began to blur, perhaps overwhelmed by the intense qi; his special ability seemed to reach its limit.

But that was enough.

With Pa Chun’s death, he was certain.

‘It is not the Heavenly Killing Star.’

Even after enduring the Great Demon Exploding Heavenly Skill, which even Supreme Demon warriors cannot withstand within three breaths, he still stood.

An attack that would obliterate a normal person and cause even supreme masters to collapse coughing blood.

“Using dirty tricks, huh.”

Because he was still alive.

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The explosion spread very widely.

Like a giant flower blooming, flames and qi spread in all directions.

The power Pa Chun released by sacrificing himself amplified his qi several times.

Thus, not only his guards around but also their allies were engulfed by the fire demon.

“This is…”

“Ugh…”

The surrounding enemies stopped moving due to the overwhelming power.

It was because a fifth of their forces were wiped out by the recent blast.

Corpses and wounded lay scattered, and some nearby buildings were engulfed in flames.

Of course, some of his guards were injured as well.

“Oh dear. That was a bit dangerous.”

Seol-Hwi tapped his shoulder through the thick smoke.

Black ash and dust fell from his robe.

The damage was minor, but the skin on his right arm was reddened and part of his sleeve was burnt and tattered.

Seol-Hwi had hurriedly used Body Protection Arts to defend, but could not cover his entire body.

‘I was too careless.’

Seol-Hwi reflected on himself for breaking the basic rule that one must always be cautious in battle.

He had originally thought that the opponent just had a bulky body, but he didn’t expect him to use a self-sacrificing technique like mutual destruction.

His technique was so sacrificial that it was hard to predict.

‘I couldn’t believe there were Peak Demon warriors who could kill Supreme Demon Warriors… Now I understand how.’

Seol-Hwi acknowledged their potential.

And Seol-Hwi partly understood why the Cult Leader sent them.

He had seen many strange things in the world, but martial arts that explode the body?

Shaaah—

Perhaps due to the recent explosion, no more fighting sounds were heard nearby.

Only the crackling of flames and occasional groans of the wounded could be heard.

“You said you are the leader?”

Seol-Hwi spoke, but he gave no answer.

He only slowly nodded.

“Don’t waste my time anymore, let’s finish this.”

Seol-Hwi ignited the flame of purification in his hand. A bluish aura swirled in his palm, growing stronger.

One hit from this would end everything.

It was powerful enough to defeat even a supreme master in one strike.

At that moment, the blind man spoke.

“Kid, how did you deceive the Cult Leader’s eyes and enter here?”

He seemed certain Seol-Hwi was not the Heavenly Killing Star.

He also seemed to intuitively know Seol-Hwi was not from the Demonic Cult.

Seol-Hwi could tell from his attitude; he showed no disrespect.

“Well, isn’t it similar to why you came here?”

“Indeed, we are all pitiable beings.”

A faint smile appeared on the blind man’s lips.

It was like meeting an old friend, yet facing an enemy.

He was smiling yet was filled with complex emotions.

Ssssh.

He slowly extended his hand, his dry fingers seeming to feel something in the air.

Then moved them here and there.

His movements were very fluid, like leaves flowing on water, reminiscent of Tai Chi.

But there was something more subtle and profound.

“The world is vast, and there are many warriors. I am glad to meet you.”

Suddenly, the air began to vibrate subtly.

Though invisible, the surrounding qi seemed to move along his fingertips.

The blind man soon took a stance and continued,

“Come.”

“Alright.”

As soon as Seol-Hwi answered, Seol-Hwi charged forward.

Seol-Hwi had no intention to waste time.

After all, those here were just a handful.

There had already been unexpected sacrifices; no more damage was needed.

Fwoosh—

Blue flames flared stronger from his hand.

Naturally, Seol-Hwi unleashed the purifying flame that even the blind man could not block, capable of killing in one strike.

But then.

Phaaah—

In an instant, it vanished into thin air as if a lie.

No trace remained.

A brief blue glow lingered before being swallowed by darkness.

“What is this?”

Seol-Hwi couldn’t hide his surprise as he muttered.

He saw the blind man’s fingertips, who was standing before him.

It was neither the color of qi nor the form of qi technique.

Just waves, moving as different forms of qi currents.

‘Could it be, this guy…’

It was astonishing.

There are a few techniques to manipulate qi currents, but they are used defensively in desperate moments.

Techniques like Weight of a Thousand Ounces or Heaven and Earth’s Great Power.

Or selectively, things like Yin Arts.

But he used a different form of qi currents to attack.

This technique seemed like an attack form that a righteous sect warriors beyond Supreme Warrior stage, into the Profound stage, would have.

‘Does he possess supernatural power?’

The blind man did not seem to use that technique or martial arts.

Nor could he be considered to have reached the Profound Warrior stage; it must be a special ability.

An innate talent from birth or a special acquired ability.

Either way, this was definitely beyond ordinary martial arts.

Ssssh.

This time, the blind man attempted an attack.

Invisible energy currents.

They sliced through the air like transparent blades toward him.

A normal person would be hit without sensing it, but Seol-Hwi was an exception.

his senses clearly detected it.

Pararat.

With one move, Seol-Hwi dodged all the various qi currents.

Just as Seol-Hwi thought the invisible currents had vanished.

Suddenly, they appeared in midair.

“Hah!”

Seol-Hwi gasped in surprise, but his body still reacted.

Papapat.

Seol-Hwi managed to dodge, but felt a bit annoyed.

his palm stung, and his sleeve was torn. His attacks were much faster and more versatile than expected, and he could transform intangible qi into tangible forms.

“Multiple forms of qi currents, if the sword moves, it must be Qi-Controlled Swordsmanship.”

Indeed, honing supernatural power showed unimaginable strength.

He had the skill to kill most Supreme warriors, yet was a blind spot not classified as one.

That made him even more dangerous; he was an existence beyond conventional evaluation.

“It is excellent, but this is the end.”

Seol-Hwi closed and opened his eyes briefly.

In that brief moment, something awakened within him.

Upon reaching the state Profound Demon, one can harmonize with nature, even control it.

The air around him began to vibrate subtly, and flames started swirling around him.

“…”

Then, for the first time, confusion flashed across his face.

He seemed to sense the heavy air around.

“Ah.”

Then, as if realizing the true nature, he widened his eyes.

Though blind, his mind’s eye surely saw it.

A massive presence overwhelming his ability.

“Ha!”

He pushed with all his strength.

It was his last resistance; his hands traced complex paths through the air.

With a final shout, tremendous energy currents swirled.

Gugugung!

For a moment, space seemed to warp, and stones and branches flew as if caught in a storm.

“I won… Ugh!”

A smile of victory appeared on the blind man’s face, then instantly turned to horror.

His voice suddenly stopped.

He only then realized Seol-Hwi was standing before him, not the other way around.

His expression of confusion and fear was clear under the moonlight.

“Your thoughts?”

To his calm question, the blind man stared blankly, unable to believe it.

His lips trembled, and his face turned pale.

Perhaps his instincts screamed.

That Seol-Hwi was an impossible being here, something beyond nature’s laws.

“It’s your fault for relying solely on the laws of nature.”

At his words, his eyes widened; though blind, realization dawned on his face.

“Could it be… Pro-Profound Demon…”

His voice trembled, stammering without finishing.

He finally understood.

That there is a human who can control nature.

He thought all martial artists trained under nature’s laws and followed its flow, but the being before him was different.

Thud!

A single downward strike.

His palm lightly landed on his crown.

The sound was soft, but the impact was strong.

The blind man’s body trembled slightly; the life left his eyes, and his tension released.

“I’ve gained a rather useful friend.”

Seol-Hwi muttered as he looked down at him.

Then he looked at the remaining ones and continued.

“And I now have a gift to bring to Elder Dok Yeo-woon.”

Seol-Hwi had originally planned to meet him in the morning, but there was no need to delay now.

Especially since he now had a gift from the Cult Leader’s subordinate.