Chapter 284 : Techniques, Exchanged
Chapter 284: Techniques, Exchanged
The fight shifted into close combat.
From a power struggle of hurling Sword Qi and discharging palm force, it now changed into a battle of sophisticated techniques.
The Heavenly Demon Soul boldly blocked Lee Jaseung’s attacks.
The skin of the Heavenly Demon Soul, created by dark energy, was truly strong. It was not strong because it was hard, but because it was soft and absorbed every impact.
It was soft, but it did not tear. It did not even leave a scratch when sliced with Asura.
Eventually, Lee Jaseung injected inner Qi into Asura.
Wooooong.
A blue streak of Enhanced Qi gathered on Asura. He had manifested Enhanced Qi on the dagger, accepting a large consumption of inner Qi.
Swish, swish, swish!
Asura rapidly stabbed at the Heavenly Demon Soul.
The tide of the battle turned. The Heavenly Demon Soul did not dare to block Asura, which was steeped in Enhanced Qi, with its hands.
The Heavenly Demon Soul retreated.
Lee Jaseung quickly followed right behind it.
Lee Jaseung’s relentless attacks continued, and one of the moves hit its mark.
Swish!
The Heavenly Demon Soul’s forearm was split wide open. Black smoke leaked out from the severed flesh like blood.
Kuaaaaaa!
The injured Heavenly Demon Soul howled like a wounded beast and exploded its Demonic Qi.
Lee Jaseung was pushed back in a slide, and the Heavenly Demon Soul, having discharged the Demonic Qi, also staggered. It had used its Demonic Qi excessively to secure distance.
The Heavenly Demon Soul reached out its hand.
Ssssssss.
A single sword pierced out from the Heavenly Demon Soul’s palm.
The sword that emerged from the body was a blade that existed as one with the being known as the Heavenly Demon Soul. Because of that, the strength of the sword was more powerful than any demonic sword in the Jianghu.
Without sharing a single word of provocation or conversation, the two focused only on the fight.
Shwaaaaaak.
The Heavenly Demon Soul flew in while swinging its sword.
As the sword blade and the dagger’s edge collided, brilliant sparks flared.
Sword light and sparks covered the area around the two. Those watching could not accurately discern what moves they were exchanging, but one thing was certain.
Lee Jaseung was demonstrating a skill that surpassed the boundaries of a human.
If the opponent had not been the Heavenly Demon Soul, even someone like Yim Sayeon would have already been lying down as a corpse.
Lee Jaseung, having even gained Yim Sayeon’s insights, had certainly grown stronger. Because the opponent was the Heavenly Demon Soul, Lee Jaseung was able to pour out all his skills to his heart’s content, and therefore, he could find out exactly where his skill level stood through actual combat.
The Heavenly Demon Soul was receiving all the attacks that he poured out with all his soul.
Truly, the Heavenly Demon Soul was a monster created solely for the sake of fighting and to eliminate opponents.
Just as the sound of the sword and dagger clashing seemed to reach its peak,
Kwaaaaang!
An ear-splitting explosion vibrated through the surroundings.
Asura and the Heavenly Demon Soul’s sword had properly collided.
They were pushed back in a slide. The number of steps pushed back was almost the same. In other words, it meant they had similar strength. If the Heavenly Demon Soul grew large, it would be able to produce even stronger power, but for some reason, the Heavenly Demon Soul did not grow.
Lee Jaseung buckled Asura back onto his waist. He intended to face the Heavenly Demon Soul using truly only his bare hands with the Ten Heavenly Secret Arts.
Sssssss.
The sword held in the Heavenly Demon Soul’s hand disappeared into its palm. The Heavenly Demon Soul also intended to face Lee Jaseung barehanded.
Lee Jaseung and the Heavenly Demon Soul lunged at each other.
Kwang! Kwaaaaang! Kwang!
Powerful fists that vibrated heaven and earth were exchanged. Attacks went back and forth while aiming for openings; at least in barehanded fighting, Lee Jaseung was a step ahead.
Lee Jaseung’s fist, as sharp as an awl, hit the Heavenly Demon Soul’s chest.
Thud, thud, thud!
Lee Jaseung, who was striking the Heavenly Demon Soul’s chest consecutively, leaped up.
Wham!
Lee Jaseung’s knee struck the Heavenly Demon Soul’s face.
The head snapped back.
However, the head snapped right back into place like a roly-poly toy.
It was not just its endurance that was strong. Its reactions were fast and its responses were fast. The bastard was terribly fast.
Papapapang!
The Heavenly Demon Soul threw a series of punches. As if in revenge for the beating it received earlier, those attacks were too fierce.
Lee Jaseung flew into the air while avoiding the attacks.
The Heavenly Demon Soul followed and flew up.
They flew into the sky like two dragons ascending to heaven.
Even in the midst of that, fists were exchanged.
The two people who flew into the sky became as small as dots.
Those watching were filled with admiration. How on earth could they fly to that height using human movement techniques, and how could they exchange offense and defense in the process.
Truly, if this fight had not been a battle between Lee Jaseung and the Heavenly Demon Soul, they would have clapped and cheered.
Lee Jaseung was showing the limits of what a human could demonstrate. It felt as if the Heavenly Demon Soul existed just to prove that.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The fists of the two collided. They did not retreat an inch. A massive wave of Qi swirled between them.
It was truly a neck-and-neck skill level.
With a loud explosion, the two people flew back. Lee Jaseung immediately descended to the ground. As he reached the limit of staying afloat in the air, Lee Jaseung had intentionally unleashed a powerful attack and then used that counterforce to descend to the ground.
Following Lee Jaseung, the Heavenly Demon Soul also landed on the floor.
Even after coming down from fighting while stirring up the sky, not a single breath from the two had become rough.
However, Lee Jaseung felt it.
That he was being pushed back in terms of inner Qi. His decision to descend to the ground first was the clear proof of that.
Had the Heavenly Demon Soul noticed it?
After that, the aspect of the fight changed slightly.
Thud, thud!
Lee Jaseung’s fists landed consecutively on both of the Heavenly Demon Soul’s shoulders. The Heavenly Demon Soul staggered and retreated.
The Heavenly Demon Soul had begun to allow Lee Jaseung’s attacks.
Unless there was serious internal damage, it was a situation where Lee Jaseung, who was delivering the attacks, was at a greater disadvantage. After all, the consumption of inner Qi was more severe for attacking than for defending.
Smash!
This time, Lee Jaseung’s kick struck the Heavenly Demon Soul’s flank. It was a power that could turn a large rock into powder, but the Heavenly Demon Soul merely staggered once and did not fall.
It even smiled leisurely.
Slam!
Lee Jaseung struck the Heavenly Demon Soul’s torso with his shoulder. The Heavenly Demon Soul flew through the air and rolled on the ground.
However, it immediately stood up as if it had not received even a bit of damage.
“Kekekeke, that tickles.”
It was just then, as the Heavenly Demon Soul was approaching Lee Jaseung.
Thud.
The Heavenly Demon Soul, which was moving its steps, staggered and then eventually knelt on one knee and slumped down.
Cough.
The Heavenly Demon Soul spat out dark energy from its mouth as if vomiting blood.
In an instant, the Heavenly Demon Soul’s gaze grew intense.
“Could it be? Internal Shattering Technique?”
The Internal Shattering Technique was an attack that damaged the internal organs rather than the exterior of the enemy, a technique that caused death by vibrating the internal organs even if the target appeared to have suffered no damage on the outside.
Internal Shattering Technique.
It was exactly the winning move Lee Jaseung had thrown.
The reason Lee Jaseung had not used this method from the start was to make the Heavenly Demon Soul let its guard down.
From the attack pouring out Sword Qi, to close combat using daggers, and then close-combat techniques using bare hands.
The flow of this fight was also exactly what Lee Jaseung intended.
Of course, it was by no means an easy task to embed the Internal Shattering Technique into each move of the Ten Heavenly Secret Arts. As much as it was difficult, the power was incredible.
The Heavenly Demon Soul walked forward while stumbling.
“Not bad.”
Lee Jaseung did not miss this opportunity while the Heavenly Demon Soul was shocked.
He rapidly dug into the Heavenly Demon Soul’s bosom.
The Heavenly Demon Soul swung both fists to block Lee Jaseung’s approach.
It was the reaction Lee Jaseung wanted.
While avoiding the lunged attack, Lee Jaseung put his arm under the Heavenly Demon Soul’s armpit. A move he had saved and cherished since facing the Heavenly Demon Soul with secret arts was demonstrated.
The Heavenly Demon Soul’s form spun once in the air.
Kwaaaaang!
A shoulder throw, one of the most powerful techniques in the Ten Heavenly Secret Arts, had landed properly.
Craaaack.
Centering on the Heavenly Demon Soul fallen on the floor, the ground cracked like a spiderweb.
If the opponent were not the Heavenly Demon Soul, this one move would be enough.
However, Lee Jaseung’s attack was just beginning.
Lee Jaseung’s form, having leaped up, again mercilessly trampled the Heavenly Demon Soul’s chest.
Kwaaaaang!
The ground where the Heavenly Demon Soul was lying sank deep.
Kwang! Kwang!
Lee Jaseung leaped up consecutively and struck down with his feet. Since the attacks Lee Jaseung delivered with all his soul were also imbued with the Internal Shattering Technique, the power was truly immense.
As if to finish it off for good, Lee Jaseung climbed on top of the Heavenly Demon Soul’s belly.
Kwang! Kwaaaaang! Kwang!
Lee Jaseung struck the Heavenly Demon Soul’s face with his fists. The immense power shook the Heavenly Demon Soul’s brain.
Kwang! Kwang! Kwang! Kwang! Kwang!
The punching poured down like a skilled craftsman’s hammering.
Before long, the attacks that had continued without rest stopped.
The Heavenly Demon Soul’s face was buried in the ground. The rising dust began to settle slowly.
Since attacks imbuing the Internal Shattering Technique into the strikes of the Ten Heavenly Secret Arts had landed like that, it was a moment to hope that the fight had ended this way.
However, the first thing Lee Jaseung saw was the smile on the lips of the half-buried Heavenly Demon Soul.
Lee Jaseung spat out a single word in despair.
“Damn it!”
In the next moment.
Slaaaaam!
The fist of the Heavenly Demon Soul, which had been hanging lifelessly until now, struck Lee Jaseung’s chest. Lee Jaseung’s form flew through the air and crashed into a wall.
Rumble.
The wall collapsed.
It was only a single blow, but the power was immense.
The Heavenly Demon Soul had gathered all the hidden force of the Internal Shattering Technique that Lee Jaseung had sent earlier and loaded it into that single blow as it was.
“Keugh.”
Lee Jaseung, whose internals were vibrating, vomited blood. The shock was too severe, and he could not stand up from the spot. Since it was like receiving back all the impact he had inflicted on the Heavenly Demon Soul, it was a relief that he did not die instantly.
On the other hand, the Heavenly Demon Soul stood up perfectly and walked toward Lee Jaseung.
“Keke, the moment I was hit by the first Internal Shattering Technique, I realized your pathetic plan.”
Watching the approaching Heavenly Demon Soul, Lee Jaseung tried with difficulty to raise his body but soon slumped back down.
Lee Jaseung vomited blood once more.
* * *
“No!”
The same words burst from the mouths of Mujin and Ma Young-gi simultaneously.
Ma Young-gi’s target was Lee Jaseung and the Heavenly Demon Soul.
The moment he saw the Heavenly Demon Soul flowing into Lee Jaseung’s body, he tried to run out while shouting ‘No’.
However, the target of Mujin’s ‘No’ was not Lee Jaseung or the Heavenly Demon Soul.
It was none other than Ma Young-gi.
Mujin grabbed Ma Young-gi’s arm tightly and repeated it once more.
“No!”
“Captain Mu!”
Ma Young-gi’s heart was urgent.
“It is dangerous. At this rate, our Lord will be taken by that bastard!”
“Trust our Lord.”
“But!”
“I said trust the Alliance Leader!”
Mujin let out a sudden shout, and Ma Young-gi’s gaze trembled.
‘What if that judgment is wrong? What if it is a situation where I should go out and save the Alliance Leader right now?’
Ma Young-gi trusted Mujin. Because he trusted Mujin, he also trusted Mujin’s judgment.
However, the current situation was too desperate. The urgency that he should save Lee Jaseung even by sacrificing his life had taken precedence.
Mujin spoke calmly.
“I believe the reason the Alliance Leader left us in this position was not so that we could jump in when he is in danger.”
Because the Lee Jaseung until now had been so. Because in urgent situations, he had overcome crises with rational judgment rather than an emotional approach.
“I am not trusting the Alliance Leader right now, I am trusting the way he has lived.”
Those words reached Ma Young-gi. Regardless of whether Mujin’s judgment in grasping the situation was right or wrong, he could tell that Mujin trusted Lee Jaseung more firmly than he did.
Ma Young-gi nodded vigorously.
“Yes, I will trust him too.”
Although his words were so, Ma Young-gi’s pupils were still trembling with anxiety.
In the meantime, the Heavenly Demon Soul had approached right in front of Lee Jaseung, who was still slumped down.