novelraw Chapter 257 : A Person’s Heart Does Not Die (8)
Chapter 257 : A Person’s Heart Does Not Die (8)
Chapter 257: A Person’s Heart Does Not Die (8)
The energy of Taiji rotated fiercely, as if it were trying to purify even the blood-dyed sky.
Yoo Jinhak’s sword, surging toward the Blood Demon, flashed like a single beam of light.
At the same time, as the auspicious radiance split into dozens of branches, the Mind Sword unfolded without end.
Taiji Wisdom Sword
Ultimate Technique
Taiji Filling the World
Yoo Jinhak’s sword was completely different from before.
Astonishingly, his sword had drawn close to the perfection of the Life and Death Realm that Sewoon had reached.
There was only one reason such an extreme transformation had occurred.
‘He’s burning all of his Innate True Qi…!’
Sewoon let out a low murmur without realizing it.
He understood the moment he saw it. Yoo Jinhak was boldly sacrificing his own life for this very instant.
Each stroke he unleashed, each stroke that unfolded, displayed tremendous power—and with it, his lifespan was being shaved away.
Yet Sewoon could not stop him.
How could he, when this was the resolve of a chivalrous warrior who had chosen to save the world?
Chwaaa!
Seogyeok!
The Blood Demon’s long black robe trembled faintly, and a fleeting ripple passed through his physical body.
Drip.
At that moment, a fragment of the Mind Sword Yoo Jinhak had unleashed carved a wound into the Blood Demon’s flesh.
Sewoon did not miss that fleeting fissure.
“I’ll help you!!”
Paat!
From Sewoon’s body, which had pushed the Golden Heaven Harmonizing Qi to its absolute limit, golden radiance erupted like the sun.
At the same time, recalling the teachings bestowed by the Heavenly Demon, Sewoon spread the Heart-Blade Heavenly Net vast and wide from his ten fingers.
Paat!
Swaaaah!
The Heart-Blade Heavenly Net surged violently into the tiny gap created by Yoo Jinhak’s Taiji Wisdom Sword.
As if thousands of needles were trying to pierce the Blood Demon’s body all at once, the razor-sharp momentum of the Heart-Blade Heavenly Net filled the entire space.
A single strand of the Heart-Blade Heavenly Net was no different from an intangible Mind Sword.
A breathtaking sight unfolded as golden light and pure white radiance merged into one.
Kwaaaang!
Jjeojeok!
A massive explosion roared forth.
For the first time, the Blood Demon’s movements slowed, if only slightly.
And it was only natural.
Yoo Jinhak’s Martial Intent and Sewoon’s Martial Intent were endlessly disrupting his defenses.
Pasuseu!
Paaah!
In an instant, the Blood Demon’s pitch-black demonic qi wavered, and fragments of energy shattered and vanished into nothingness.
A strange light rose in Sewoon’s eyes.
‘This might work…!’
Like a castaway who had grasped a lifeline of hope, Sewoon clenched his teeth and pressed on even harder.
However, unlike him, Yoo Jinhak’s expression remained unbearably heavy even in this situation.
Chwaaa!
Sewoon’s Heart-Blade Heavenly Net searched out every opening in the Blood Demon like a raging storm, launching relentless attacks.
Yoo Jinhak’s Mind Sword also seeped forth like a shadow, targeting the Blood Demon’s back and flank.
Seogeogeok!
Along with a chilling sound of slicing, a deep gash was carved into one of the Blood Demon’s arms.
“Alliance Leader! The next attack!!”
Sewoon raised his voice as he prepared the follow-up strike.
Uuuung!
Kwarurur!
A destructive resonance thundered through the air.
This time, he was drawing out all of his strength, intent on inflicting not a mere wound, but a fatal injury.
Sewoon charged straight toward the Blood Demon.
Chwaaa!!
Chwarararah!
Though the Blood Demon could not see it, at that very moment the greatest number of Heart-Blade Heavenly Nets Sewoon could unleash surged forward like towering waves of the great sea.
Even if one were caught by just a single strand among those countless threads, the body would be split in two, meeting a horrific death.
Yoo Jinhak, too, calmly moved his sword, inscribing the trajectory of Taiji at the end of each and every one of those countless threads.
The combined assault of the two clearly contained the utmost power they could produce.
Kwaaaang!
Jjeojeok!
The earth of Huayin County screamed as it split apart, and even the blood-dyed sky twisted as if exploding.
And then, at that very moment—
In the hollow gaze of the Blood Demon, with the Heart-Blade Heavenly Net and the Pine Pattern Ancient Sword right before him, a faint trace of disappointment flickered.
“Disappointing.”
With that low voice of the Blood Demon—
Pajeujeujeuk!
Kwaaaang!!
Sewoon’s hope shattered into pieces without a trace.
‘What…!’
Sewoon was struck with shock.
The Blood Demon had not avoided any of the attacks pouring down upon him; he had taken them all head-on.
Yet the result was completely different from what Sewoon had expected.
The Blood Demon’s body, riddled with massive holes and covered in countless fatal wounds—
Gureureuk!
Kwaruk!
With grotesque sounds, it regenerated perfectly.
“Ah.”
A groan escaped Sewoon’s lips without him realizing it.
The first sound he had made since returning.
The sound of ‘despair.’
All the efforts he had poured out in his mad dash until now were denied as helplessly as a child’s prank.
The Blood Demon’s regenerative power, having reached the extreme of the Life and Death Realm, far surpassed imagination.
It was as though it had transcended even the very concept of death.
That was when it happened.
Pabat!
In the stillness where it felt as if the world itself had stopped—
Suddenly, Yoo Jinhak squeezed out his last strength and charged toward the Blood Demon.
“Alli—!”
Sewoon screamed, but Yoo Jinhak was already sprinting to the Blood Demon’s very front.
His body was as precarious as a martial robe dyed red with blood.
Even so, Yoo Jinhak tightly clenched the hand gripping his sword.
His gaze burned with fierce fighting spirit directed at the Blood Demon.
There was nowhere left to retreat, nowhere left to evade.
Only one final ‘duty’ remained.
‘I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you beforehand, Sewoon.’
Yoo Jinhak’s eyes already seemed to have transcended death. A faint smile even surfaced on his face.
It was not the calm of one who accepted death, but the figure of a seeker of the Way determined to uphold his Principle to the very end.
Beneath the blood-dyed sky, his eyes emitted a single, faint beam of light.
Unlike Sewoon, he had never raised his Innate True Qi in order to kill the Blood Demon in the first place.
Watching that sight, the Blood Demon frowned slightly.
The desperate will of humans meant nothing to him, and this tenacious resistance was an unexpected distortion.
“Annoying.”
The Blood Demon’s chilling voice brushed past Sewoon’s ears.
The moment he finished speaking, Yoo Jinhak drew up even the last remaining shred of Innate True Qi from his Dantian.
His body had long since surpassed its limits.
Even as his skin split and his bones screamed in agony, his gaze did not waver.
‘To bear it all alone… how hard it must have been.’
At this moment, Yoo Jinhak instead felt pity for Sewoon and all he had endured until now.
Chwaaa!
Gathering his final strength, he swung his sword.
And as he did so, he precisely sent a transmission to Sewoon, who was charging toward him in a frenzy to save him.
[Sewoon, look carefully. And please remember this.]
His final duty in saving the world was precisely this—to show the successor who would protect the martial world in his stead a path by which he could advance even further.
Chwaecheok!
Unlike before, Yoo Jinhak’s sword was utterly silent.
Calm and still in its movement.
It did not look like the trajectory of a blade delivering a final strike while burning away every last spark of life.
Using not a Mind Sword, but the very sword he had once received from his master, Yoo Jinhak drew an exceedingly ordinary circle toward the Blood Demon.
[This is the final realization I sought to attain.]
Yet that simple sword path—
Kwaaaaang!!
Kwarurur!
Produced destructive power greater than any technique the two of them had unleashed thus far.
But—
Sseuaek!
Kwagagaga!
With a sound of rending air, the Blood Demon’s right hand flew in and shattered everything.
Overwhelming power that surpassed all tiers was collapsing laws and structure themselves.
Pupuk!
“……!!”
A chilling sound of penetration rang out.
In that instant, Sewoon’s eyes trembled violently, as if struck by an earthquake.
It was inevitable.
The Blood Demon had pierced Yoo Jinhak’s heart precisely with a hand blade.
But that was not the end.
“Now disappear.”
Seogeok!
Thud.
With his other hand, the Blood Demon severed Yoo Jinhak’s neck.
At the same time, Yoo Jinhak’s head left his body and rolled across the ground.
The Sword Emperor, once a single ray of light within the orthodox martial world, fell just like that.
“Ah… ah.”
Before Sewoon’s eyes, Yoo Jinhak’s existence was completely erased from the world.
The tragedy had now reached Yoo Jinhak as well.
Pain surged in as though his heart were being torn apart.
Before the unbelievable massacre unfolding right before him—
The thread of Sewoon’s reason finally snapped.
“Blood Demon!!!!!”
Uncontrollable madness began to rampage within him.
Losing all reason, Sewoon charged at the Blood Demon with bloodshot eyes.
The Heavenly Demon’s energy erupting from his body spiraled out of control, dyeing the night sky an even deeper crimson.
Rage, despair, and vengeance mixed together and seized dominion over him.
His Heart-Blade Heavenly Net transformed into blazing black flames and surged violently toward the Blood Demon.
The attack was merciless, like a feral beast driven mad.
Kugugugung!
Kwarururureung!
The Golden Heaven Harmonizing Qi erupting from Sewoon’s body mixed with blood-red demonic qi, spewing forth a grotesque dark-crimson radiance.
“Die!!!”
Sewoon’s voice was closer to a scream of despair.
Within his consciousness, nothing existed but hatred for the Blood Demon.
The being that had violated him and destroyed everything before his regression.
This time, only murderous intent to kill him filled his mind.
His Heart-Blade Heavenly Net grew ever more grotesque and destructive in form.
The restrained and perfect harmony of the Golden Heaven Harmonizing Qi vanished, replaced by nothing but chaotic slaughter meant solely for destruction.
The countless threads of the Heart-Blade Heavenly Net bit into the Blood Demon’s limbs like starving beasts, trying to tear apart his soul and spirit.
Paat!
Kwarureung!
Violent energy condensed around his fists, and every kick carried power that seemed capable of ripping the earth apart.
The uncontrollable energy appeared to drain all vitality from the surroundings, and with every trajectory of his attacks, space screamed as it tore apart.
His body, soaked in madness, looked as though a Demonic God had descended upon the mortal world.
The Blood Demon quietly watched Sewoon’s onslaught.
A deeply chilling smile surfaced on his face.
“So in the end, you chose the same path as I did.”
It was not surprise, but a feeling akin to anticipation that had arrived after a long wait.
Watching Sewoon’s rampaging power, he seemed to confirm something.
Sewoon could not possibly know its meaning.
His eyes were filled with nothing but killing intent aimed at taking the Blood Demon’s life.
Pabat!
Casting aside all reason, Sewoon threw his entire existence into charging at the Blood Demon.
Every one of his attacks carried the agony of Yoo Jinhak’s death and absolute hatred toward the Blood Demon.
“I would like to claim your power immediately, but—”
Swish.
The Blood Demon extended his hand and lightly pressed down on Sewoon’s rampaging Heart-Blade Heavenly Net.
Kwaduk!
All of Sewoon’s attacks scattered futilely, and his body was caught helplessly in the Blood Demon’s grasp like a bundle of threads.
As his body was crushed, every bone and muscle screamed in agony.
“Unfortunately, you are not yet ripe.”
The Blood Demon’s low voice echoed in Sewoon’s ears.
Crushed beneath the Blood Demon’s overwhelming strength, his body could not move even an inch.
Blood tears flowed from his eyes.
Sseuaek!
In an instant, the Blood Demon hurled Sewoon’s body into the air.
Sewoon flew off and tumbled across the ground, utterly wrecked.
“Cough— kuh!”
With his insides churned to mush, Sewoon spat out a mouthful of black blood.
Uuuung!
Watching that, the Blood Demon’s form gradually rose into the air.
It was air-walking taken to the extreme.
Kwarurur!
Kwagaga!
At the same time, the space where the Blood Demon hovered twisted, and a massive hole formed as if space itself had been crushed.
“I shall look forward to the day we meet again.”
Swaaaah!
As if harboring no regrets whatsoever, the Blood Demon vanished into the distorted night sky.
Thus, only horrific ruins and silence remained in Huayin County.
“No… no…”
Dragging his blood-soaked body, Sewoon crawled toward where Yoo Jinhak’s corpse lay sprawled.
He reached out toward Yoo Jinhak—
Pasuseu!
The body, eroded by demonic qi, turned to dust and vanished.
Only the Pine Pattern Ancient Sword, with its sword aura remaining, was left in his grasp.
“Uaaaargh!!!!”
Sewoon’s scream echoed miserably across the ruins of Huayin County.