Published at 18th of March 2026 6:30 am

Chapter 413

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*Splat-!*

Blood began to drip and soak the floor. My sword slashed across Silver Moon Sword's torso.

"*Cough.*"

Silver Moon Sword coughed up blood from his mouth. His eyes were wide open with shock.

"... Impressive."

He uttered a short compliment. Even though he acknowledged me, it didn't feel good.

'What is this?'

That was because my gaze wasn't even directed at him.

'Just what... is this.'

A stark white handa semi-transparent handemerged, piercing the eyeball that had jumped out from Silver Moon Sword.

*Creak creakcreakcreak.*

The spirit trembled. The sound was eerily similar to a scream.

Right after it pierced through with ease, the hand waved lightly through the air.

*Paaaaaaah--!!!*

With that, the eye, trailing black energy, vanished into thin air.

The evil energy I'd sensed from Silver Moon Sword was nowhere to be found. That meant it had been completely eradicated.

'How?'

How could it have been erased like that?

That wench did something unnecessary.

Heavenly Demon remarked calmly. As I'd expected, what just happened was his doing.

Still such a revolting woman.

There was no need to ask who "woman" meant. Most likely, Bow Ghost.

Such a disgusting thing.

Killing intent surged in Heavenly Demon's voice. As soon as I heard it, shivers ran down my spine. The emotion contained in that voice alone was enough to do so.

Focus. This isn't over yet, is it?

"...!"

*Swoosh!!*

I jerked my head back. The tip of a sword passed right by my nose. Luckily, I avoided the attack.

'Damn.'

It was Silver Moon Sword. Even with his chest torn open, he was swinging his sword at me.

*Fwoooosh-!!!*

The blue energy became even stronger. The aura enveloping his body surged with renewed force.

'Is this bastard insane?'

Did he still have this much strength left? It was unbelievable.

*Bang!!* I stomped the ground hard. Then, as if launching myself, I charged him directly.

*Crackle.*

'I'm running out of energy.'

I didn't have much left to maintain Moon Heaven.

'Even after going through rebirth...'

My energy had increased substantially. Thanks to that, I was able to maintain Moon Heaven for most of the Martial Tournament.

'But still...'

It still wasn't enough. If this was a real fight, I wouldn't have lasted long.

"Ha ha ha!"

Silver Moon Sword laughed. The crazy bastard. He was grinning even as blood poured from his chest.

By now, it was terrifying.

*Swoosh!* His sword flew towards me. I tracked its trajectory.

*Clang!!*

I deflected it. Just like earlier, I exploited the habit I'd noticed in Silver Moon Sword.

But

*Swick!*

'Huh?'

Unlike the path I'd calculated, his sword twisted and moved along a different route.

Spinning, Silver Moon Sword followed along with the movement.

The tip turned a full circle and came at me again.

'This guy...?'

I scowled as I dodged.

'... Did he manage to slip in a feint in that brief opening?'

Silver Moon Sword must've predicted I would exploit his own habits and used that against me.

He anticipated my move and changed his strength accordingly, then used that opportunity to throw in a feint and attack me.

'Hah.'

Geniuses, honestly.

'He's no different from that Peng kid.'

That guy took a bit of time, but this guy didn't even need that. He saw through it at once.

Told you, didn't I?

Heavenly Demon's voice rang out.

That onehe's a monster.

A high evaluation. Yeah, I had to admit it.

Perhaps he could have gone toe-to-toe with Yu Chun-gil.

But I didn't agree with what came after.

'Yu Chun-gil?'

Comparing him to Sword Saint Yu Chun-gil? Ridiculous.

'From what I'm experiencing in the Mind Realm, that's a joke.'

I fight Yu Chun-gil from his prime every day in the Mind Realm. That's on a whole other level. Silver Moon Sword couldn't even begin to compare.

*Crunch!*

Because I knew that, I realized I couldn't afford to give up.

'He's slowed down.'

Silver Moon Sword was obviously getting slower. His sword remained sharp, but his speed had noticeably decreased.

From that, I understood.

'He's reaching his limit too.'

Just like me, after using Moon Heaven and coming to my own limit,

His condition wasn't great either.

'That's enough.'

That was all that mattered.

As long as I wasn't the only one struggling, I could endure.

*Crackling!!!*

I raised my internal energy. I felt my dantian constrict.

It meant I'd just about run out of energy.

I ignored it.

'I have to.'

I'd keep going.

Normally, I would have stopped around here. With my miserable tenacity, I should've given up long ago.

'Maybe I've been corrupted a bit.'

After staying with that fierce old man, I think something's changed. My very mindset's gotten all twisted.

'It hurts.'

My muscles were screaming. I'd hit my limit long ago.

I was running out of energy, my body hurt. This is why I hate fighting.

'What am I trying to prove?'

Why am I putting so much effort into this?

*Tsk.*

I clicked my tongue. Then I caught myself glancing over at the side of the competition stage. I could feel eyes on me.

Among them, I saw a pair of blue eyes.

'Chun Uijin?'

Chun Uijin. And Yu Yun were watching here. Also

'Chun Hye-in?'

A little farther away, Chun Hye-in was looking this way, too. Her eyes looked a bit worried.

'Is that an illusion...?'

It probably is. Chun Hye-in worrying about someone? That was impossible.

'That can't be.'

Her worrying? It'd be more believable if you told me Yu Chun-gil came back to life.

'I must really be struggling, huh.'

When the body aches, you start seeing all sorts of nonsense.

I clenched my teeth and pushed through.

Moon Eye analyzed the sword path in front of me.

*Swoosh!!!*

It grazed my cheek.

"...!"

Silver Moon Sword's eyes widened.

A mistake. He knew it, and so did I. He had put in too much force and his posture fell apart.

'Now.'

I was lucky. I didn't expect hi to make a mistake.

That's not luck.

Heavenly Demon spoke.

You brought the situation here with your own strength.

Was that praise, or just a correction? It didn't matter either way.

*Bzzzzzz!!!*

Now that I saw my chance, I had to use it.

'Sword path.'

Moon Wave surged in.

*Crash!!!*

Silver Moon Sword hurriedly brought up the flat of his blade to block. This time, he couldn't change its path.

'Second.'

I invoked Moon Wave, then immediately used a second sword path. A white flash drew a line in the air.

'Third.'

With my sword raised, I invoked Night Moon.

*Crash!!*

Silver Moon Sword dodged and his blade buried into the ground.

*Crunch!!!*

The ground shattered and aura burst forth. My hands and body were covered in bulging veins.

"... Ha!"

Silver Moon Sword let out a ragged sigh. Right after, I felt a tremendous release of energy from him.

*Uuuuuuuuunng!!!!*

The aura wrapped around his sword began swirling even faster.

'What is that?'

As I prepared my fourth sword path, I looked at his sword.

Ha ha.

Heavenly Demon's laughter echoed.

This is fun. Was he called Virtuous Moon Sword?

He'd mentioned the Blue Moon Sect Leader's title.

For him to use it like that. Crafty man, he is.

I didn't understand. Heavenly Demon's words didn't register properly.

At that moment, all I could see was Silver Moon Sword.

'Ah.'

And then

'The sound'

All noise faded. My chest felt like it was floating.

'This feeling...'

I'd felt this before. Surging heat pierced through my crown.

I'd reached a state of selflessness.

I didn't even blink. Not a single breath escaped me. All I saw was my opponent.

Silver Moon Sword took my fourth sword path.

He didn't dodge.

*Sshhk!*

Once again, my sword slashed his upper body. Not deep. I intended for it to be just that way, expecting him to dodge.

Why didn't he? I didn't care.

'Fifth.'

I cut him down.

I win.

That was all that remained in my mind.

'Great Moon.'

Great Moon ().

I raise a massive moon into this blue sky.

I thrust my sword. Seeing that, Silver Moon Sword also unleashed everything he'd been storing up.

'That...'

The swirling sword aura took shape. It was a solid blade of energy. But

'It's not a double-edged sword.'

The shape of his sword was just like a crescent moon.

What was that?

I didn't know. I just unleashed Great Moon at him.

Thus, sword clashed with sword.

*Tung!!!*

*Kuaaaaaaa!!!*

White light and blue aura rampaged, as if bent on mutual destruction, rising into the sky.

"Uagh!"

"Grrraaagh!!"

The force of clashing auras exploded across the competition stage. Disciples cried out from the shockwave, and the weaker ones were outright blown away.

*Fwaaaaaaaa!!!*

As the auras faded, wind whirled and then calmed.

*Ssssss.*

With the settling wind, dust drifted down.

As my vision, previously blocked by aura, began to clear

"... Look at that."

One disciple raised a trembling hand at the competition stage.

On that stage

"......"

"......"

Between two swords, someone stood.

A handsome middle-aged man with blue eyes.

"This is where it ends."

It was Virtuous Moon Sword.

He had pinned Silver Moon Sword's blade down with one foot, and gripped my wrist with his other hand.

"The match is over."

His voice was heavy.

"*Huff...* *Huff...*"

I let out a rough gasp at his words. My knees buckled. Moon Heaven had already ended long ago.

A wave of belated exhaustion hit me.

"*Ugh...*"

I felt like I might throw up.

I forced it down.

I bit my lip.

'I lost.'

I couldn't muster any more strength. Even though Virtuous Moon Sword had stepped in, I doubted the outcome would have changed.

"Haa."

I let out a sigh.

"The winner is Bang Sung-Yun."

"Huh?"

At Virtuous Moon Sword's declaration, I lifted my head. He was looking right at me.

His gaze was sharp, more so than usual, as he continued.

"Well done."

"... What do you mean?"

Confused, I glanced at Silver Moon Sword.

"Ah."

Only then did I understand.

"......"

Silver Moon Sword, with his blade planted in the ground, had his head bowed. Though he hadn't collapsed, he looked unconscious.

Seeing that, I collapsed as well.

"Haa..."

I won. As that thought settled, any remaining heat within me surged all the way up.

*Thud.*

With the rebound of depleted energy, I lost consciousness on the spot.

***

*Snap.*

In the darkness, a woman closed her fan.

Her snow-white hair trembled. Beyond her delicate hand, a strange gleam flickered in her eyes.

"... Hmm?"

Her pleasant voice hummed with a hint of confusion.

"What's this?"

She flicked her fingertip. The energy she'd felt disappeared.

Something she'd so painstakingly cast had been removed by someone.

"Who?"

Who dared?

Who would have the nerve to erase her spiritual ki? It was unthinkable.

In her whole life, there had only been one person who managed that.

The owner of the Demonic Cult. That detestable oneonly he had ever pulled it off.

'Even though he's already dead.'

He'd probably made full use of his soul and attained enlightenment. She had torn and torn his soul apart with her own hands, so she knew better than anyone.

If it wasn't him... Did that mean someone else could tamper with her spiritual ki?

"How interesting..."

The woman curled her lips. The air instantly turned icy cold.

"Guess it's time I moved again, after so long."

The Empress of Ice rose, lifting her heavy body.

Gramps' Notes:

What?

The Ice Empress?

Also, she ripped the Heavenly Demon's Soul apart?

What does that mean????

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