Kuguguguguhung!!
With the trap’s activation, the ground shook.
The Hawk Entities seemed to view the earthquake as an opportunity, diving down towards Wi Ji-cheon.
However, their judgment was somewhat hasty.
Dozens of Gang-hwan projectiles were shot at the Hawk Entities.
Biiiiii!!
While diving, the Hawk Entity was hit by the Gang-hwan projectiles and soared higher, flapping its wings.
“Hmm.”
Wi Ji-cheon sighed in disappointment.
After all, flying was inherently lighter than walking on the ground, and he thought a full-on attack would be enough to inflict damage, but there was no result.
Because the Black Dragon Qi didn’t move as he wished, lacking both force and precision, Wi Ji-cheon was only left with the stark realization that he couldn’t take down an entity while possessing the Black Dragon Qi.
Shifting his gaze from the high-flying Hawk, Wi Ji-cheon analyzed the situation upon seeing the gigantic pit created by the quake.
Had the Blood Ancestor drawn his trump card first?
The appearance of the pit had changed the tide of battle.
The ground collapsing over the pit created a massive rumble, which worked against the Array Formation Teams.
Thud thud thud thud!!
However, there was no need for Wi Ji-cheon to step in to deal with that setback.
Even on this battlefield, where all manner of entities, Array Formation Teams, and experts swarmed, the Bicheongmacha, a standout presence, began assisting the Array Formation Teams.
Then, should he jump into the pit?
Wi Ji-cheon looked up towards the sky. The Hawk Entity flying above showed no sign of descending.
“Hmm.”
If he jumped into the pit, would that entity chase him? He didn’t think the one that had just taken a hit would follow him into the disadvantageous pit.
If he threw himself into the pit without the Hawk Entity chasing him and attacked the Array Formation Teams, then the tide of battle would instantly swing towards the Blood Sect.
But it would also be clearly unreasonable to expect Ho Cheon-an and his companions to hold out against the Black Serpent and Blood Ancestor for long.
As Wi Ji-cheon’s troubles deepened, something was shot towards the pit.
It was Seo Gong.
“… I see.”
Seeing the small figure without hesitation throwing itself into the pit, Wi Ji-cheon muttered.
Having sensed that the unknown entity was indeed Ho Cheon-an, Wi Ji-cheon had been testing and watching him.
Could the unknown really be a future version of Ho Cheon-an?
If so, could Ho Cheon-an truly become someone like the unknown?
The timelines they had lived were different, so he could never be an equal, but nonetheless, Wi Ji-cheon couldn’t help but be concerned about whether Ho Cheon-an could become the unknown, so he couldn’t take his eyes off him.
It may have been a futile obsession, but to Wi Ji-cheon, it was an important matter.
And at this very moment.
Witnessing Seo Gong throw himself into the pit, Wi Ji-cheon could draw a conclusion.
Current Ho Cheon-an could never be the unknown.
Wi Ji-cheon recalled the moment he faced the unknown for the first and last time.
From the empty and hollow gaze, Wi Ji-cheon felt a profound loneliness. With everything burnt away and only the pursuit of martial prowess remaining, he was someone who had to walk that path.
At that moment, Wi Ji-cheon felt a sense of kinship.
The Heavenly Demon could only build a mound of fear and awe. Similarities existed between Wi Ji-cheon, who had to walk the path of martial prowess, isolated from people, and the unknown.
The unknown was that type of being.
But what about the current Ho Cheon-an?
With no drive or reason to push himself to reach a high station, only persevering on the path of martial prowess, he had countless people looking out for him.
They would never leave Ho Cheon-an alone.
Even the non-human entity, Seo Gong, had jumped into the pit to stand by his side.
Thus, he could not be the unknown, who solely walked the path of martial prowess, and the unknown was merely a being that had disappeared forever.
Wi Ji-cheon fully accepted that fact.
“Then now, Ho Cheon-an, you must compete with me.”
Isn’t the mere act of competing something where we explicitly mix hands and strike each other? Even without a collision, being aware of each other’s presence and competing was also a form of rivalry.
Since Ho Cheon-an had reclaimed the original Heavenly Demon Arts.
One thought had lingered in Wi Ji-cheon’s mind.
Regardless of everything, in the end, the unknown was also Ho Cheon-an, and the current Ho Cheon-an was still Ho Cheon-an.
So, as someone who merely inherited the Heavenly Demon Arts, shouldn’t he, who fell behind the one who reached the essence of the celestial principles, challenge him?
Such competitive spirit bloomed in Wi Ji-cheon’s heart, but he couldn’t practice it.
It was a historic moment as the dam of the Heavenly Demon Sect, shackled by the succession of later generations, broke.
At such a moment, would the Heavenly Demon, the symbol of the sect, take a challenge, prioritizing his own competitive spirit, risking the loss of the Heavenly Demon Arts?
Wi Ji-cheon couldn’t carry out such a reckless act.
That was before he stood on this battlefield.
Wi Ji-cheon recalled the sight of Wi Seoryeon defeating Gu Mo-seol.
Ever since coming to the Central Plains, he had been running around like a horned colt, looking for gambling opponents.
To the church members and the public, he had shown nothing but untrustworthy behavior, but today’s events would surely change that evaluation.
He had knocked down an expert challenger of the Heavenly Demon Arts.
So even if he became the leader of the Heavenly Demon Sect now, there would be no one to look down on him.
His heart leaned further towards the actions of his grown daughter.
Wi Ji-cheon’s gaze turned back to the sky.
The Hawk Entity was something Wi Ji-cheon had to handle on this battlefield. However, as long as he possessed the Black Dragon Qi, he had no chance of taking down the Hawk Entity.
Wi Seoryeon had already played her role by defeating Gu Mo-seol. Ho Cheon-an would surely subdue the Blood Ancestor with Seo Gong’s help.
While the saint of the sect and the Heavenly Demon displayed remarkable feats, how could the Heavenly Demon yield no results at all?
“This is not something a Heavenly Demon’s pride can accept.”
Once he voiced it, it became an even more plausible excuse.
Nodding to himself, Wi Ji-cheon drew out the weapon strapped to his waist.
The handle was luxurious, but the body was crude, and its length was so short it resembled more of a decorative item than a practical weapon.
And the sphere attached to its body looked so poor it could easily be mistaken for a half-finished creation of a lousy blacksmith.
However, that shabby weapon symbolized the links between the old ancestors and the founding Heavenly Demon of the Heavenly Demon Sect.
Clenching the short club tightly, Wi Ji-cheon began to delve deeper into his inner self.
Deep within his heart, the Black Dragon curled up.
The Black Dragon looked at Wi Ji-cheon with an irritated gaze.
Wi Ji-cheon could easily read the Black Dragon’s will, one he had coexisted with for half a lifetime.
– It’s been long since you accepted me and became a Heavenly Demon. What on earth are you trying to do now?
“I must comprehend the essence of the stars.”
– What?
“I will follow in the footsteps of the first Heavenly Demon, who comprehended the essence of the stars and unfolded the celestial steps to defeat you. I too shall reach that essence and take down the flying entities.”
– Hahahahaha!
At Wi Ji-cheon’s declaration, the Black Dragon burst into laughter.
– Has one success of a brat made you lose your mind?
– How can you be called a Heavenly Demon without the Black Dragon Qi?
– Look at this vast Central Plains Martial World. Think of the countless believers.
– How can an ordinary martial artist with no unique traits protect the Heavenly Demon Sect from the Central Plains?
As the arrogant laughter echoed, Wi Ji-cheon calmly spoke.
“That no longer matters.”
Wi Ji-cheon looked at the now-silent Black Dragon and realized his own feelings.
Ever since encountering the unknown, he had been trying to ignore a certain emotion that had been boiling within.
“I can’t continue to hold it back, or I’ll feel too ashamed to live.”
– What?
That emotion was none other than competitive spirit.
“I didn’t manage to fend off the unknown’s Brain Crystal, so that was my defeat. However, I could accept that defeat. I had long known the unknown would be a vanishing entity.”
– What kind of nonsense…?
“However, after learning that Ho Cheon-an is the unknown, the game has changed. I wanted to compete with Ho Cheon-an once more, leading me to permit the succession of the Heavenly Demon Arts. Hence, Ho Cheon-an reached the essence of the stars, and I did not.”
– T-That…
The Black Dragon wanted to say something, but Wi Ji-cheon showed no interest in its words.
“I felt anger boiling within me and could endure it. I didn’t even know of Ho Cheon-an’s existence when I challenged the Heavenly Demon Arts. If Ho Cheon-an had been around when I challenged the Heavenly Demon Arts, even if it meant my death, I would never have accepted you.”
Wi Ji-cheon continued.
“Even if I piece together excuses, I can’t calm my anger. Just look at the current situation. As long as I bear you, I won’t be able to take down a single entity, and Ho Cheon-an will subdue the Black Serpent and Blood Ancestor with Seo Gong. A defeat. A truly devastating defeat, wouldn’t you agree?”
– Have you lost your mind? That’s completely nonsensical!
Wi Ji-cheon contemplated.
The Black Dragon’s argument was logically sound.
Hadn’t he agreed to a silent match with the unknown? So how could he compare the match with Ho Cheon-an to that of the unknown? Furthermore, the phrasing of competing with Ho Cheon-an was also flawed.
He hadn’t formally suggested a duel with Ho Cheon-an; it was merely Wi Ji-cheon’s own musings in his mind.
But such criticism didn’t stir any reaction in Wi Ji-cheon.
His heart was already ablaze with competitive spirit.
“Even if I’m called mad, that’s fine. I don’t care if I’m no longer a Heavenly Demon.”
Inside his heart, feelings of sheer determination bubbled over.
He would grasp the essence of the stars.
With that essence, he would take down the Hawk Entity.
Then he would stand on equal footing with Ho Cheon-an!
Wi Ji-cheon raised the club, aiming at the Black Dragon. On his face, a fierce smile spread as his determination burned brightly.
Realizing Wi Ji-cheon’s sincerity, the Black Dragon hastily spread its wings and flew away.
– Even if you wield that club, and even if you kill me, do you think you could touch the essence of the stars? You’re just a fool who accepted me and compromised!
But both Wi Ji-cheon and the Black Dragon knew that this struggle was a futile struggle.
After all, Wi Ji-cheon was someone who had long since defeated the Black Dragon.
“Even if I fail to grasp it, there is still the possibility of taking down the Hawk Entity.”
– Crazy bastard! Stop it! I lost! When facing entities, I won’t interfere!
“Not a bad proposal. But it’s not enough.”
Wi Ji-cheon kicked off the ground and leaped towards the Black Dragon. The distinct malice within Wi Ji-cheon was sensed by the Black Dragon, causing it to screech.
“How can you catch up to Ho Cheon-an, who has awakened the essence of the stars?”
– Kyaaaah!!
The Black Dragon was shattered by the impact of the club, scattering into pieces.
As the struggle that lasted only a moment in reality concluded, the Black Dragon Qi erupted from Wi Ji-cheon’s body. The writhing form of the Black Dragon Qi dissipated completely.
Though the situation was similar to when Ho Cheon-an had broken the Black Dragon Qi, the scale was different.
A truly enormous Black Dragon Qi that could be believed as a real Black Dragon burst into the sky, writhing and then disappearing, causing everyone to look at Wi Ji-cheon in astonishment, and even the flying Hawk Entity hurriedly fled.
Wi Ji-cheon’s red eyes returned to their original color.
For a moment, Wi Ji-cheon felt a sense of emptiness.
As the massive Black Dragon Qi that filled his body disappeared, what remained was just the inner force he had worked hard to cultivate.
However, Wi Ji-cheon was smiling.
With the Black Dragon Qi and Black Dragon gone, the empty body and heart began to whisper to him the essence of the stars.
As Wi Ji-cheon accepted the essence of the stars, he pondered.
Could this truly be called the Heavenly Demon Arts? Even if he grasped the essence of the stars with the same club, it would differ from what the first Heavenly Demon had realized.
Biiiiii!
Lost in thoughts about the essence of the stars, Wi Ji-cheon snapped back to reality with the echoed cries in his ears.
What was his purpose in wanting to comprehend the essence of the stars and defeat the Black Dragon?
It was to take down the Hawk Entity and equal Ho Cheon-an.
Yet, the Hawk Entity was scared and keeping its distance.
“I mustn’t forget my purpose.”
Soaring into the air, the Heavenly Demon’s foot stepped onto the void. Once more stepping into the void, he rocketed skyward.
Celestial Step.
He had displayed a divine technique treated merely as a legend since the founding, so he could have been moved. However, Wi Ji-cheon was focused solely on chasing the fleeing Hawk.
Eventually, Wi Ji-cheon’s form soared higher than the Hawk.
Biiiiii!!
Hearing the frightened cries of the Hawk Entity, Wi Ji-cheon lifted his club. The opponent had lost will, so it wasn’t necessary to take its life.
“But evidence of taking it down is needed.”
So first, he needed to bring it down.
Even though he grasped the essence of the stars, Wi Ji-cheon, obsessed with competing with Ho Cheon-an, concentrated the Qi into his club.
Heavenly Demon’s Three Clubs.
The Hawk Entity, unable to endure the strike from the club wrapped in silvery starry light, fell towards the ground.
Kuhhhuuuuuung!!
Confirming the state of the knocked-out Hawk Entity, Wi Ji-cheon slowly descended and surveyed the atmosphere of the battlefield.
The ambiance of the battlefield had overwhelmingly swung in favor of the Heavenly Demon Sect.
Perhaps due to Wi Ji-cheon’s inactions, the martial artists who had sided with the Blood Sect were fleeing in all directions, and even the Array Formation Teams seemed to be encouraged, chasing after the entities.
It was only a matter of time before results would be apparent, as the victory or defeat had already been decided.
Finally, Wi Ji-cheon glanced into the pit.
He saw the two dismembered Black Serpents and Ho Cheon-an and his companions standing off against the Blood Ancestor, guarding Seo Gong, who had returned to his original size.
Watching that scene, Wi Ji-cheon muttered.
“Finish it off. Ho Cheon-an.”
Did he even hear that remark?
Ho Cheon-an and his companions began moving towards the conclusion.
