Published at 26th of January 2026 10:11 pm

Chapter 376

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

It was a time when fierce battles with the Demonic Cult were ongoing.

Demonic beings poured forth madly.

Led by the Eight Demonic Beings, it was an era of brutal, unending war.

Members of the Righteous Faction, who had barely managed to unify, clashed with the Demonic Cult, and the great war that broke out in Qinghai, where Kunlun was located, was called the Heaven-Blood Battle—a desperate struggle still recorded in history.

It was a day when the Heavenly Demon never even appeared.

Even though the leader of the Demonic Cult hadn't shown himself, the Righteous Faction was being pushed back by the Demonic Cult's might.

The Eight Demonic Beings were strong.

They claimed to have received baptism from the Heavenly Demon, and the power they unleashed was so overwhelming that even the absolute masters of the Righteous Faction could barely withstand it.

Can it be called a defeat of strategy?

Even though Jaegal Jin tried every tactic, they fell victim to the gap that the Demonic Cult had targeted.

The absolute masters of the Righteous Faction—

The ones now called 'Heaven Beyond Heaven' were pinned down.

Those who could truly be called their main fighting force numbered, at best, four.

Just by simple calculation, that meant each one had to face two of the Eight Demonic Beings.

And in reality, it was no different.

At that time, the Tyrant King was also there.

Ghost Demon and Fighting Demon of the Eight Demonic Beings.

He was barely holding the line against them, but the limits were clear.

Perhaps if he'd only needed to deal with those two, he could have held out longer.

But the Righteous Faction was being driven back.

Because the demonic beings of the Demonic Cult were simply that powerful.

They were being pushed to the point where defeat was plain to see.

If things continued like this, the war would end right then and there.

The enthusiasm of the Righteous Faction had grown as quiet as a dead mouse.

As defeat loomed ever closer—

KUOOOOOONG---!!!!

Something appeared, shaking the ground.

A beam of light.

An azure flash poured down onto the battlefield, shooting up to the sky as if forming a pillar.

That light instantly slaughtered all the demonic beings nearby.

'Kyaaagh!'

As if swallowed whole by the light, the demonic beings were wiped out on the spot.

It all happened in but a moment. An overwhelming presence and a violent aura.

Everyone was frozen by that supreme might.

Whether demonic or righteous, it made no difference—all were stunned.

'Ha.'

When the Tyrant King let out a hollow breath during that pause,

'Draw your swords.'

A voice echoed from the center of the beam.

'Because I am here now.'

As the pillar disappeared, a large figure stood calmly at the center.

Tightly tying back his thick mane of long white hair,

He swept over the battlefield with piercing blue eyes.

At his gaze, the demonic beings trembled, and the righteous masters kindled with rising heat.

A war god.

For a moment, that title flashed through the Tyrant King's mind.

But no—that wasn't it.

'You will not die today.'

He was none other than the Sword Saint.

* * *

Nostalgic.

Or terrifying.

If not that, then awe-inspiring.

The Tyrant King recalled a fleeting memory as he looked forward.

'Wasn't he called his successor?'

He hadn't believed it. No, there was no need to believe it. After all, no one could ever contain or resemble the vessel of that monster.

So even if they called him a successor, he didn't care much. At best, he felt a modicum of interest.

That was all. He had too much to do to put any more meaning into it, so he tried to leave it at that—a passing curiosity, nothing more.

'Well now.'

The Tyrant King found himself raising the corners of his lips as he looked at the young man before him.

'I thought he was a little similar.'

He had received martial arts from him.

He had thought, because of that, there was a resemblance.

'But that's not it.'

That light from a moment ago.

Those eyes right now.

They were all him.

'Though their looks are very different.'

He really is the successor. Not just in name, but the true inheritor of all those things.

'Full Moon.'

It was clear. The brilliant light that poured down during that war.

The light that instilled absolute terror in the demonic beings of that era—it's here now.

Therefore—

'Might as well have a go.'

Veins bulged in the Tyrant King's eyes.

The fact that he was facing a much younger junior was forgotten.

The Sword Saint's successor. Wielding the Sword Saint's sword.

Someone infinitely different, yet uncannily alike.

That was all Bang Sung-Yun was to the Tyrant King.

"...... You said you would give me five exchanges, didn't you?"

Bang Sung-Yun asked.

At that, the Tyrant King smiled.

"Yes, five exchanges."

"Would you be willing to offer a bit more?"

"One arm and one leg, and I even said I wouldn't move from my spot. Isn't that a little too much to demand?"

"It is, isn't it?"

He accepted it quickly. What a peculiar fellow.

'He's not intimidated.'

It's been a while since he met a rising star who wasn't the least bit intimidated by him.

He hadn't interacted much with the rising stars to begin with, but usually, those he met were always daunted by him.

But not this one.

'Is it because of the people he's met?'

Maybe because he's already met top experts—Divine Spear, the previous sect leader of Mount Hua, and others of the "Heaven Beyond Heaven" level?

'No.'

That probably wasn't it. If that explained it, there would be no problem.

This must simply be his personality.

Otherwise—

'Unless you've spent all day with monstrous people.'

It had to be because of his nature and unique traits.

'You're going to be something.'

Not bad. The Tyrant King adjusted his stance, awarding points in his mind.

"...... Are we starting now?"

"Is there a problem? I've given you enough conditions, haven't I?"

"...... Hmm...... Then, may I ask one thing?"

"Go ahead."

With permission, Bang Sung-Yun asked the Tyrant King,

"What does Tyrant King-senior hope to gain from this spar?"

A spar with nothing but disadvantage for him. What did he gain from this?

At the question, the Tyrant King broke into a wide grin.

"Enjoyment."

"Sorry?"

Bang Sung-Yun's face froze at the firm answer.

"Enjoyment...?"

"Yes. Enjoyment."

"What's enjoyable about this...?"

What could possibly be enjoyable about such a disadvantageous spar? Bang Sung-Yun couldn't understand and asked.

"How could it not be enjoyable?"

The Tyrant King answered simply.

"I saw a forgotten past in you. So, show me. That is enough."

"...... But—"

"If that isn't enough for you... Fine, let me ask you one thing. If you answer my question truthfully, that will be enough for me. Will that do?"

"......."

If I'd just kept my mouth shut, probably nothing more would've been added to this. Saying something only added fluff that didn't need to be there.

"All right."

Even so, my choice as Bang Sung-Yun was the same.

"Let's do this."

Strangely enough,

I didn't feel like I would lose this bet.

* * *

Sseuuu.

With sword in hand, I calmed my breathing.

'Is this really okay?'

Is this bet actually fine? The thought flashed across my mind.

'What's with that old man, honestly.'

It's absurd that the Tyrant King suddenly wanted to spar.

'He's serious?'

I could tell that the old man truly wanted to have a match with me.

'...... Why?'

Really, why?

Was it because of this martial art called Full Moon?

I had no idea.

The problem was, I accepted before I even knew the reason.

'...... The conditions aren't bad, though.'

Five-exchange handicap. One arm and one leg. He won't move from his spot.

Just hearing those words, they're incredible conditions.

But—

'The opponent is the Tyrant King.'

Among the Five Kings, he might be considered the top in terms of martial ability, to the point where he's equated with 'Heaven Beyond Heaven.'

Could I really overcome such restrictions against someone of that level?

Sseuuu-!

Regardless of my thoughts, my body moved on its own.

'...... If it's with that aura from before.'

The power that even surprised me, wielded just before.

If I could utilize that strange energy, it might be different.

『Kehkehkeh—』

Whether he was enjoying himself or just plain wicked, that evil spirit was laughing.

'...... First strike.'

I ignored him and advanced.

First things first.

'Moon Wave.'

Not merely imitating Moon Wave, but the real Moon Wave.

Azure sword aura suffused my blade, drawing a crescent moon.

A delicate line aimed right for the Tyrant King—

Tung-!

"......!!"

The Tyrant King casually punched, disrupting the incoming Moon Wave at the flat of my sword.

My upper body shook as I teetered, but I managed to stabilize with my lower body.

I didn't let go of the sword nor release the energy.

"Hoo...!"

Not yet.

Using the recoil from being deflected, I did a full spin and aimed an upward slash with my sword.

The rising cut went for the Tyrant King, but he simply bent his upper body backward, dodging it.

'Crazy.'

How could he bend that far back without moving his feet? That old man sure is freakishly flexible.

'...... Then.'

How about this next?

While still raising the sword, I imbued it with Radiant Moon Annihilation.

I executed Night Moon.

A downward slash that created a nightscape.

"Hmmm."

The Tyrant King watched and moved his other arm.

KUGUGU-GUNG-!!!

"......!!"

The aura erupting from his arm clashed with Radiant Moon Annihilation.

It was but a fleeting confrontation, yet Radiant Moon Annihilation was the one forced back.

My blade's angle changed and merely grazed past the Tyrant King's flank.

Thunk!—My sword stuck in the ground.

"Ugh...."

I could feel the vibration through my Divine Sword.

"Is that all?"

The Tyrant King asked. I could see the doubt in his eyes. Was this truly my limit?

I could sense his genuine bewilderment.

For a moment, it irritated me.

As my grip tightened unconsciously—

『See, didn't I tell you?』

Yu Chun-gil spoke to me with a disappointed face and tone.

『Nothing is more pointless or less helpful than wasted strength. I definitely taught you that, did you forget already?』

"...."

Wasted strength.

The moment I recalled that, the strength left my hands.

Clink. I raised my sword again.

『Don't be impatient. Just walk the path you've taken before. Don't try to rush it. All you need to see, child, is one thing.』

I shifted my breathing, rough yet relaxed.

『Precisely.』

CRAAACK—!!! Lightning seemed to wrap around my body.

『Just get your footwork right. Remember only that.』

Don't try to take the path faster, just tread it more precisely.

That advice made my eyes sharpen.

"Hoo."

The Tyrant King's eyes shined.

I executed Moon Heaven. It should have been from the fourth sword path, but this time it came sooner.

'I get it.'

After using it once, I understood.

'This should've started at Moon Heaven from the very beginning.'

Yu Chun-gil's martial art.

It's—

'All designed to be used in the state of Moon Heaven.'

I understood why Yu Chun-gil had always said I wasn't qualified.

KWADEDEDUK—!!!

The light seeped into my muscles.

"Ssss—"

Shedding all hesitancy, my breath flowed quickly.

SHIIIIIK—!!!

The sword edge lunged at the Tyrant King. The fourth strike.

Again, no different—the Tyrant King easily deflected it. Even if reinforced with Moon Heaven, the result was unchanged.

"... Again, this...."

Is that all?

Just as the Tyrant King was about to finish his sentence, he flinched.

'Fifth.'

After the fourth, came the fifth.

I paused for a moment, then put strength into my sword.

Last time, I exploded it immediately, but this time was different.

'The reason for swinging the sword four times.'

Moon Wave and Night Moon. The strikes tucked between them.

I still wondered how they existed.

'The clarity of the energy is different.'

The more I swung, the more I felt how the energy responded.

'It's like...'

It was like a lake just about to overflow, or the night before a storm breaks.

Energy drawn in by my sword strike had all gathered in my blade.

'Making a gap at the fifth sword path—'

Was to gather all that energy.

'And then gather even more,'

To focus it on a single point.

That's how I understood it.

KUUUUUUUUU---!!!

So I did it.

I used Moon Heaven, gathered the strengthened body and collected energy at the tip of my sword.

Rather than unleash it immediately, I gathered and gathered, pressing it to the limit.

'Here I go.'

I used my Divine Sword as a springboard and unleashed it.

"Wait, hold on—"

The Tyrant King tried to say something, but—

It was already too late.

TUNG-!

KUGAGAGAGAGAK---!!!!

A light burst forth beyond comparison to before.

KUGUGU-GUNG--!!!!

A storm. A tempest of energy swept over everything nearby.

It raged, as if an actual typhoon had descended, but faded almost as fast as it came.

Sssssss....

As the energy faded,

"Haaah.... Hah..."

Out of strength, I collapsed.

"Ugh... Hah..."

I had nothing left. Even the half I'd saved had been used up.

Staggering, I looked up in front of me.

"... Ha..."

The Tyrant King was standing there unscathed, looking at me.

Did I lose the bet? I bit my lip in regret—

"... You're a monster."

The Tyrant King spoke.

"... I lost."

At those words, I widened my eyes and looked at the Tyrant King's feet.

He had taken a single step.

He'd moved one step back from where he'd originally stood.

TL's Corner:

Welp, it's the cliche Senior underestimating junior and giving a lot of advantages...

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