Redemption of a Born Demon

Chapter 200 - 189: Life and Death in Hand, Facing Death to Live

’This is bad... It really is the Divine Unyielding One-Slash!’

In the audience, the hearts of Du Yuzhu and Qiao Fei sank. They had a terrible feeling.

Somehow, Sanada Katsuhiko had managed to unleash his most terrifying Technique!

This was probably the end. The fight would be decided with this one slash!

The power of this slash was utterly terrifying. The unavoidable, oppressive feeling—like being crushed by the heavens and the earth—was almost enough to remind Yi Beidou of the first time he’d witnessed the Devi Supernova.

And that feeling brought him joy.

’I didn’t expect to meet someone like this so soon after arriving in Japan.’

Yi Beidou had no intention of dodging. He thrust his palm out to meet Sanada Katsuhiko’s strike.

’This man is worthy of seeing my full power.’

BOOM!!

A terrifying True Intent surged forth. The Demon Flame, which had seemed to dim, flared brilliantly once more. Seven stars materialized in Yi Beidou’s palm, swirling in a chaotic dance. To the onlookers, the light radiating from his palm seemed to overwhelm and suppress the light of Sanada Katsuhiko’s slash.

’The Power of Heaven and Earth? So what?’

’Don’t they know that when the Demon Lord descends, he presides over the fate of the world?’

’What is this?!’

Sanada Katsuhiko’s pupils contracted. He felt as if Yi Beidou’s body was expanding, twisting and altering every weakness he had previously detected. It was as if the world itself had fallen under his opponent’s control!

’He wasn’t using his full strength at all during his fight with Sen Dizang?!’

’No! It’s more than that. Judging by this explosion of power, he was probably using sixty percent of his strength at most!’

’Why?!’

If he had used his full power from the start, Sen Dizang would have never been able to hold him back. And I... I never would have been able to build up momentum so peacefully and unleash my ultimate Divine Unyielding One-Slash.

In an instant, Sanada Katsuhiko understood everything.

The man had done it all on purpose.

His goal was simply to witness the limits of my power.

The man was fighting with a condescending mindset, like the heavens or fate itself, looking down and testing mortals.

This sudden, lightning-fast realization shook Sanada Katsuhiko to his core.

However, he was still the youngest man in Asia to have ever become a Saint. How could he be shaken so easily?

’So what if you’re the heavens, or a god?’

’Letting me unleash this slash will be your greatest miscalculation!’

BANG!!

Sanada Katsuhiko’s ultimate slash—the culmination of built-up momentum, stored power, and an explosive charge—collided with the palm of Yi Beidou, who hadn’t moved an inch. The very air was cleaved apart by the slash, sending a visible blade of Qi rippling outward. The shockwave was so powerful it even carved a deep gash into the stone wall at the venue’s entrance behind Yi Beidou. The sheer terror of Sanada Katsuhiko’s strike was plain to see.

And yet, despite the terrifying attack, Yi Beidou’s form didn’t waver. His palm remained unscathed, making him seem like an inviolable, colossal spirit, completely unharmed.

Sanada Katsuhiko, on the other hand, felt his entire arm go numb from the horrifying recoil of his own explosive attack.

Meanwhile, the entire venue had fallen silent.

Many of the ordinary Japanese citizens in the crowd didn’t understand the Mystical Technique behind Sanada Katsuhiko’s move; they were simply stunned by the world-altering spectacle of the clash.

But the insiders who truly understood what they had just witnessed felt their scalps prickle with fear.

’He... he blocked it?!’

Sword Saint Sanada Katsuhiko’s legendary ultimate Mystical Technique, the God-slaying Slash that channels the great Power of Heaven and Earth... he just took it head-on, completely unharmed?

Shock was written all over the faces of Du Yuzhu and Qiao Fei. This outcome was completely beyond their expectations.

The various Hall Masters stared wide-eyed. They were close to the Saint Realm themselves, so they had a much clearer understanding of just how terrifying that Technique was.

In the stands, the members of the Beichen Xin Yin School were deathly silent. Hoshino Jin shot up from his seat, grabbing the guardrail in front of him and crushing the hollow steel tube flat in his hands.

His eyes were filled with utter disbelief.

’Impossible!’

’The ultimate slash of the Beichen Xin Yin School... was caught bare-handed by that man from Donghua, and he’s completely unharmed?!’

He felt as if the very foundation of his beliefs had been shattered.

A look of relish flashed in Yi Beidou’s eyes.

"You’re not bad."

It was Yi Beidou’s acknowledgment of Sanada Katsuhiko’s strength.

Hearing this, Sanada Katsuhiko’s body trembled as if struck by lightning.

The look of astonishment on his face slowly faded, replaced by an eerie calm.

But in the next moment, the hairs on his head stood on end. His face twisted into a ferocious snarl, and a furious fire blazed in his eyes.

A tremendous change erupted within him as his Life Magnetic Field expanded violently.

Yi Beidou could tell it was some kind of life-risking Secret Technique.

’I am Sanada Katsuhiko! The renowned Sword Saint of Japan! The youngest man in Asia to have ever become a Saint! To be judged like this by a junior... it’s the ultimate humiliation! If I don’t retaliate, how can I face my own Sword Dao?!’

’I will defend the dignity of my Martial Arts Dao, even if it costs me my life.’

In that moment, he was resolved to die.

"A life-or-death Secret Technique? Good. In this world, only those who aren’t afraid to die are qualified to survive and walk their path. You want to die? Then I’ll insist on keeping you alive."

A look of approval flashed in Yi Beidou’s eyes. Before Sanada Katsuhiko could even react,

FWOOSH!!

The Demon Flame on Yi Beidou’s body erupted, completely engulfing Sanada Katsuhiko. In that instant, Sanada Katsuhiko felt a terrifying Evil Qi slam into him, a bone-chilling cold that caused the flow of both his body and his True Intent to stagnate.

His earlier Divine Unyielding One-Slash had expended all the Great Trend he had accumulated, causing his aura to plummet. Now, before he could even activate his Forbidden Secret Technique, how could he possibly resist the corrosion of Yi Beidou’s Demon Flame?

In the instant he was paralyzed by the Demon Flame, Yi Beidou’s fingers were already touching his chest.

THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!!

The Blue-White Demon Flame morphed into the Demon-Suppressing Seven-Star Needle and pierced into Sanada Katsuhiko’s body, instantly suppressing the fluctuations in his Life Magnetic Field.

His Forbidden Secret Technique, not yet fully activated, was instantly cut short. He would still suffer some backlash, but his life was no longer in danger.

"You!!"

Sanada Katsuhiko collapsed limply to the ground. As he watched Yi Beidou turn his back, his opponent’s voice drifted to his ears.

"Remember this: I am your tribulation. Live on with this humiliation. Hate me. Despise me. Use any means necessary to become stronger. And then, come and entertain me."

Yi Beidou’s voice echoed in Sanada Katsuhiko’s ears, causing his pupils to shrink instantly.

In his eyes, the young man’s departing back suddenly grew immense, becoming an insurmountable mountain.

’My very life and death are in his hands.’

’Before him, I can’t even control whether I live or die!’

Just then, Yi Beidou’s gaze fell upon another figure, this one in a daze.

Sen Dizang.

After seeing Sanada Katsuhiko’s Divine Unyielding One-Slash fail, the man had hesitated for a moment before turning to flee down the corridor.

’I know now... without using a Forbidden Secret Technique, I’m no match for Yi Beidou.’

’The best option now is to escape!’

’Ninja Art is all about coming and going like a shadow. As long as I escape, it’s not a defeat!’

’He entered Japan and appeared so openly at the martial arts tournament. If I can just get away, I can coordinate with other masters to kill him later.’

But that wasn’t what Yi Beidou had in mind.

’In the face of tribulation, only those who do not fear death are worthy of life.’

Sanada Katsuhiko was determined to die, so Yi Beidou insisted he live.

Sen Dizang, however, wanted to escape with his life. And for that reason, Yi Beidou would ensure his tribulation was inescapable!