TL: FoodieMonster007

    "GWAAAARH!"

    The One-Horned Demon Dragon flailed wildly, trying to shake off Baek Suryong as it plummeted toward the earth.

    [Get off! Get off me!]

    Firmly grasping the sword he had plunged into the beast''s reverse scale, Baek Suryong channeled even more inner qi into it.

    "ROOOAR!"

    The overwhelming destructive power of the Heaven Defying Divine Art surged through the One-Horned Demon Dragon''s body as Baek Suryong poured all of his strength into his assault.

    This ends here! he thought, determined to rip the beast to shreds.

    Unfortunately, the One-Horned Demon Dragon was a monster that had roamed the world for a thousand years. It wasn''t about to be defeated so easily.

    [I won''t let you have your way!]

    The instant Baek Suryong''s qi ravaged its body, the dragon countered with qi from its own spirit core, despite knowing it stood to suffer more in this exchange.

    "KWAAAAAAGH!"

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    The One-Horned Demon Dragon''s ghastly scream echoed through the mountains as the two forces within it clashed violently, though it nevertheless managed to curl up its body to mitigate the damage from the inevitable impact.

    CRASH!

    A tremendous tremor shook the earth, and black blood gurgled from the dragon''s mouth.

    "Hoo..." Baek Suryong took a moment to catch his breath. Right before the dragon struck the ground, he had yanked his sword free and leapt away.

    Still, he hadn''t emerged unscathed. Enduring the dragon''s bucking and thrashing without falling hadn''t been easy.

    Suddenly, he frowned. Looking at his sword, he saw that the entire blade was corroded. If he had waited any longer, the sword would have melted inside the dragon.

    At a time like this... Fuck, I need a better sword.

    His martial arts were getting stronger, and his enemies becoming more formidable. Soon, even a treasured sword like Moon Shadow wouldn''t be enough to withstand his qi.

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    He thought of the legendary sword that Wiji Yeol promised him—a sword that rivaled or even surpassed the Blood Demon Sword. If he had that sword today, the wound he''d just inflicted would have sealed the dragon''s fate on the spot.

    Just when will it be finished...?

    Baek Suryong sighed. Now was not the time to dwell on such things. The One-Horned Demon Dragon was still alive and kicking. Making a mental note to visit Wiji Yeol later, he pushed away all other thoughts.

    "I need you to keep going for a bit longer, alright?" he whispered, giving Moon Shadow''s blade a light pat as he walked toward the One-Horned Demon Dragon.

    "Grr..."

    Amid a giant cloud of dust, the dragon was beginning to stir, and a terrifying demonic qi pulsed outward in waves.

    Baek Suryong sighed again. This was why he had wanted to end things with one blow. The longer the fight lasted, the more vitality the beast would recover.

    Even now, in its incomplete state, the One-Horned Demon Dragon''s scales were tough enough to withstand his enhanced qi, and its ability to control demonic qi was on par with the Ten Supremes.

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    It was terrifyingly strong.No?v(el)B\\jnn

    "...Still, I can do this."

    Baek Suryong''s Blood Demon Eyes blazed as he examined the dragon from head to tail. Its qi was weaker and more unstable than before, a clear sign that his earlier attack was effective.

    That overwhelming hopelessness he''d felt at first evaporated. Now, he was certain he could prevail.

    BOOM!

    He kicked the ground, renting it asunder as he shot forward explosively, his blue coat flaring out behind him.

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    SWISH!

    His first strike barely nicked the One-Horned Demon Dragon''s eye, but he showed no frustration. He simply spun around and fired a blast of icy energy from his left palm, then slashed upward.

    The blade, infused with enhanced qi, sliced toward the dragon''s horn.

    The One-Horned Demon Dragon made no attempt to dodge. Instead, it loaded its horn with a thousand years'' worth of qi, granting it a blinding radiance, and then rammed it into Baek Suryong at lightning speed.

    CLAAAAANG!

    The impact flung Baek Suryong a dozen feet backward.

    He truly hadn''t expected such a fierce struggle. If the One-Horned Demon Dragon were human, it would have been like fighting with serious injuries, but it never lost the will to fight.

    Then again, if it had been at full power, he would never have stood a chance against it.

    "Consider yourself unlucky for crossing paths with me here and now."

    [How amusing. It''s not over yet...]

    "No, I''m ending it now."

    SWISH!

    Moon Shadow, glinting under the cold moonlight, drew a crimson arc through the air as it sliced cleanly through the base of the dragon''s horn.

    "GUWAAAAKKK!" The One-Horned Demon Dragon let out a terrible scream.

    Containing the essence of a thousand years of cultivation, it''s horn was the toughest part of its body, but also its biggest weakness, even more vulnerable than the reverse scale. However, no one else was supposed to know this!

    [Just how...]

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    Baek Suryong smirked. "Finding an opponent''s weakness is my specialty."

    The moment its horn was severed, the One-Horned Demon Dragon''s power took a nosedive. The qi it had gathered over a thousand years flowed out like a river, and its huge form began to shrink.

    BOOOM!

    Finally, the One-Horned Demon Dragon collapsed amid a cloud of dust, signaling the end of the battle.

    Baek Suryong approached the fallen beast. "Don''t worry. I''ll make sure to end this painlessly."

    [A pathetic creature like you taking pity on me...]

    The One-Horned Demon Dragon''s life force was rapidly dwindling, but its hatred and resentment toward humanity remained undiminished.

    For an instant, its eyes flared bright yellow.

    [Human who walks the path of defying heaven. I may die by your hand, but the price will be your destruction.]

    SHUDDER!

    An overwhelming sense of fear washed over Baek Suryong. In an instant, he lunged forward and sliced through the beast''s neck.

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    CRACK!

    Moon Shadow, having fulfilled its final task, snapped in two, and one broken piece fell beside the One-Horned Demon Dragon''s severed head.

    [To think that my thousand years of life would end so trivially... How laughable...]

    "...What the hell?" Baek Suryong muttered, scanning his surroundings. Even though the One-Horned Demon Dragon was dead, the ominous feeling didn''t disappear. Rather, it intensified.

    SSSSSSSSH...

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    A tremendous energy poured out of the dragon''s corpse and coiled around Baek Suryong.

    Finally, Baek Suryong understood. This was the creature''s final, most devastating attack.

    Before he could react, the One-Horned Demon Dragon''s thousand years of qi began to flow into him.

    "Fuck...!"

    Ordinarily, absorbing the qi of a spirit beast would be considered a wondrous blessing, but to the current Baek Suryong, it was a curse.

    "It''s good that your inner arts are growing more profound, but make sure to strengthen your physical body accordingly."

    As the Principal had warned, Baek Suryong''s physical vessel was already at its limit, which meant that the dragon''s power was no different from poison.

    "Shit... It''s trying to kill me by overloading me with qi... Ugh..."

    Baek Suryong gritted his teeth and tried to resist, but his body felt like it was being blown apart. If he couldn''t find a way to endure or expel the energy, he would either explode outright or be corrupted by demonic qi and become a mindless ghoul, just like those in the Blood Cult.

    Suddenly, the worst possible scenario flickered in his mind.

    If I turn into a ghoul and lose my mind, I''ll kill everyone close to me.

    In the distance, he could dimly see his students sprinting toward him, worried about their teacher.

    "...No. Stay back. Don''t come near me."

    He could not bring himself to greet or congratulate them. The fear of murdering them with his own hands outweighed everything else.

    "...RUN! RUN, YOU IDIOTS! GET AS FAR AWAY FROM ME AS YOU CAN!" he roared, his voice brimming with killing intent.