Chapter 140: Heaven-Slaying Star (3)
The right to survive.
The truth.
The moment I heard those two words, I realized how Ma Seonghwan had reached this point.
‘He may not have been involved from the beginning, but as someone connected to it, there’s a high chance he knows the truth.’
Indeed, even from my perspective, the truth surrounding Cheon Yura and Cheon Yujeong was something that justified killing anyone who knew it.
No—if I were the one involved, I definitely would have done just that.
‘As expected, I did manage to draw out the Sword Demon, but I didn’t expect to encounter him like this.’
If Ma Jinyoon hadn’t led us to Iron Steed Prison Cave, we would have met in some other way....
But there are no "what-ifs" in history.
“You’re saying… you’re giving me a chance?”
“That’s right. And to add one more thing….”
Ma Seonghwan glanced briefly at his two sons.
“Let’s make a bet.”
“…A bet?”
“Eldest son of the Jin Clan. I acknowledge that you prevented Heaven-Slaying Star from flowing into the Cheon Clan.”
What’s with this guy suddenly? Why is he acting like this?
Sure enough.
“But I also acknowledge that you arrogantly intervened in the Ma Clan’s successor competition and acted beyond your authority.”
“You don’t need to acknowledge that part.”
“Which is why I’m giving you a chance—under the name of a bet.”
Ma Seonghwan brushed off my words and continued.
“Originally, Heaven-Slaying Star was supposed to belong to me.”
Twitch!
Ma Chulsoo and Ma Jinyoon’s shoulders flinched slightly.
“But now that things have turned out this way, I might as well yield it to Chulsoo.”
“…!”
“Jinyoon, pass on Heaven-Slaying Star to Chulsoo. And then…”
Ma Seonghwan raised his finger and pointed at me.
“You, stop me.”
“What happens if I fail to stop you?”
“Then today, I’ll lose two sons and gain Heaven-Slaying Star.”
I lightly bit my lip.
So in other words, “I’ll kill you and take Heaven-Slaying Star.” If not, then try and stop me if you can—something like that?
Against a man who had supposedly surpassed even the peak of “Extreme Demonic Realm”?
I instead let out a crooked smile.
‘How entertaining.’
I’d been lucky up until now.
The first formidable foe, Jeokun, had been taken down thanks to Cheon Yura’s presence.
The second, the Yin-Yang Fist Demon, had been weakened by the counteracting nature of the awakened state, and the friendly technique had already half-killed him.
Even Song Yangja, whom I met here, had already been thoroughly beaten by the Cult Leader, allowing me to finish the job.
Despite encountering several masters who were far above my level, I’d only survived because each one of them had special circumstances or flaws in their condition.
But.
The being in front of me now was different.
Truly in his prime—an absolutely flawless and invincible existence with no weaknesses.
For the first time in this life, I was facing a purely raw, supreme-level crisis!
“Ma Jinyoon.”
“Jin… Yeomyung.”
“How long do you need to complete the grand technique?”
Ma Jinyoon hesitated for a moment, then answered in a small voice.
“…Fifteen minutes.”
“I see.”
So I had to hold out against that top demon swordsman for fifteen minutes?
I turned my eyes to Ma Chulsoo, standing next to Ma Jinyoon.
“Ma Chulsoo.”
“……”
“Have you still not made up your mind?”
If Ma Chulsoo still hesitated here, I was ready to give up everything—Heaven-Slaying Star and all—and retreat cleanly.
Fortunately.
“No… I’ve come this far. I can’t turn my back on reality anymore.”
Ma Chulsoo lowered his head helplessly.
“Good for you, bastard.”
Even at my insult-laced jab, Ma Chulsoo couldn’t straighten his shoulders.
I could understand that he couldn’t give up on his younger brother’s life.
But if he wanted to aim for the clan leader’s seat, he should’ve steeled his heart far more.
‘Or… is that wrong? If I were in their situation…’
If Ma Chulsoo and Ma Jinyoon’s circumstances were like mine and Cheon Yura’s...
Would I have acted like Ma Chulsoo?
‘Tch!’
Just imagining it made a bitter taste rise in my mouth. I shook my head and focused back on Ma Seonghwan.
“Clan Lord Ma.”
“Speak.”
“I ask that you observe with the Sword Heart.”
I drew my sword as I spoke.
“That is, if you don’t truly want to kill me.”
Surprise flickered in Ma Seonghwan’s eyes at my words.
“…You saw it?”
“To a certain extent.”
When he had sliced through O-ro’s arm, I had clearly sensed that refined intent.
A master of the Extreme Demonic Realm could release their intent through Formless Qi, but refining it into the shape of a sword? Even among top sword masters, that was something nearly impossible.
That was essentially the realm of the legendary Formless Sword.
“Amazing. You neither have a Divine Body nor a possessor of Heaven-Slaying Star… and you haven’t even reached the Extreme Demonic Realm, yet you saw that?”
Ma Seonghwan looked at me as if I were a rare, one-of-a-kind beast.
“I envy you. I truly do.”
I didn’t know what he was envying exactly, but still, I really wished he’d go easy on me….
“I want to scrape every ounce of your skill and taste it for myself.”
A battle-hungry smile slowly formed on Ma Seonghwan’s previously calm face.
‘Damn it!’
I must’ve said something wrong—I felt like I just poked a tiger in the nose!
No, not a tiger. I should say a dragon soaked in blood.
In any case, I had to survive for fifteen minutes against a dragon that looked like it could devour the entire world.
“I’ll concede the first move. Please, give it your all.”
“…Thank you. I will, since that’s the only way I’ll survive.”
I stabbed my thumb toward the area near my heart without hesitation.
Thump!
In that moment—
As foreign characters appeared near my heart, an infinite, pure-white power began surging throughout my body from where there had previously been nothing.
“……!”
Ma Seonghwan seemed slightly flustered, as though he had sensed the sudden transformation within me.
“A foreign Qi technique? No… it’s not something so crude.”
“Haa…! Haa…!”
A soft glow began to emanate from my entire body, as if I were radiating a halo.
“What did you just do?”
“I simply awakened one of the possibilities within me.”
“What kind of possibility?”
“Vitality.”
To be precise, I had momentarily drawn upon the vitality from my first life—my prime.
First was sensation.
Second, vitality.
Well, there is a third, but using that would be worse than death, so I’ve kept it sealed and won’t count it.
Ma Seonghwan observed my unusual state quietly, then reached a conclusion.
“Whatever it is you’ve done… that isn’t demonic internal energy.”
“Yes. That’s why I’ve avoided using it.”
Everything I had learned in this life had been rooted in demonic internal energy.
But the source of the vitality I had just awakened was entirely and fundamentally the opposite of the demonic path.
No, perhaps—
‘This power might be fundamentally similar to the “Divinity” those Heaven-Defying Society bastards use.’
“I see. So you did have something you were counting on.”
Ma Seonghwan didn’t ask me about the source of my internal energy.
He was only interested in what this power could do.
“I’m coming.”
An entirely different kind of power—golden and black—spiraled upward around me.
Ten Heavenly Record Demonic Sword
First Record
Heaven-Opening Fire Stream
I activated the first form of the Heavenly Record Sword and charged straight toward the Sword Demon.
***
The moment I unleashed the first form of the Heavenly Record Sword—Heaven-Opening Fire Stream—
A force of an entirely different dimension surged through my sword.
RUMBLE!
It roared forth with the momentum of water bursting through a broken dam!
The first form I had cast spread outward like crashing waves, engulfing Ma Seonghwan.
“……!”
Even I hadn’t expected this kind of power.
“Not bad.”
But Ma Seonghwan only showed mild surprise and remained composed.
Then his sword traced a familiar path.
‘Blood Flow Demonic Spirit Sword Art!’
The fundamental sword technique of the Blood Dragon Demonic Clan, passed down to direct descendants!
The fact that he chose this instead of the Blood Dragon Heaven-Slaying Sword Art meant Ma Seonghwan wasn’t planning to go all out from the beginning.
‘If that’s the case—!’
As the blood flow of the Demonic Spirit Sword dissipated my sword momentum—
I pushed through the opening with a linear strike aimed at Ma Seonghwan’s neck.
Second Record
Heaven-Rising Demonic Flame
The most effective way to buy time was to pour out everything I had—to make him savor the full extent of my power.
Holding back half-heartedly would only backfire!
Third Record
Hundred Dance Competing Spirals
Following the honest, direct strike, a swirling movement sent forth a tremendous number of sword auras—over a hundred—bursting forth in a frenzy.
“…Tricks, are they?”
But apparently, that much wasn’t enough. The sword auras I had unleashed with Hundred Dance Competing Spirals were completely blocked by Ma Seonghwan’s own strikes.
No, they weren’t just blocked—they were overwhelmed. His attacks even outnumbered mine.
“Ha.”
Just as I was about to let out a hollow laugh at Ma Seonghwan’s relentless show of power—
He fired his remaining sword auras at me and said,
“If you can’t even block this much, you’d be better off dead.”
What was truly terrifying was that those sword auras weren’t launched randomly—each one had intent, specifically targeting me!
He wasn’t giving me any room to escape.
In desperation, I unleashed my next forms.
Fourth Record
Nine Heavens, One Point
Fifth Record
Hidden Soul, White Demon
Two forms burst forth at once to counter Ma Seonghwan’s sword auras.
Nine Heavens, One Point was a defensive form that created a sword barrier, and Hidden Soul, White Demon served a similar purpose.
The blood rain that poured from the heavens struck the barrier I had created.
RUMBLE—!
Normally, no amount of defense would have prevented me from being turned into a pincushion…
“…Sturdy.”
At this moment, even the vessel of my body was on an entirely different level.
I had brought forth a fragment of my first life—my prime.
Of course, it was only perhaps a tenth of that prime, but it was still enough to match Ma Seonghwan for a time.
“You’ve got quite the potential. That last strike… even that O-ro guy wouldn’t have walked away unscathed.”
Despite the fact that his blow had been completely blocked, Ma Seonghwan smiled faintly instead.
A simple sword aura couldn’t be taken lightly.
A martial artist of Ma Seonghwan’s caliber could sever even the sword force of a top-tier master using just sword aura.
I had long since discarded the idea of stalling with defense alone.
Sixth Record
Boundless Realm Demon
A stream of black-gold Qi flew horizontally, aiming at Ma Seonghwan.
“Taking the initiative—good decision.”
Ma Seonghwan seemed quite pleased with the way I was actively engaging him.
Not as if giving guidance to a junior, but as if enjoying a battle with a worthy rival!
Ever since becoming the head of the Blood Dragon Demonic Clan, due to his social status alone, it must have been difficult for him to engage in combat above a certain level.
“Each of your sword forms flows as if drawing a circle… I see. Is that the Heavenly Record Sword?”
“You knew?”
“Of course. That sword art originally belonged to the Ma Clan.”
Right. The secret manual of the Heavenly Record Sword had originally been kept in the Blood Dragon Demonic Clan before being passed to the Demonic Heaven’s Jin Clan.
“Fascinating. I’ll go along to the end, to see just how much potential a sword art aiming for the Heavenly Demon can hold.”
The blood hue in the sword held by Ma Seonghwan deepened.
It was a sign that he had begun truly using his Qi.
Blood Dragon Heaven-Slaying Sword Art
Ultimate First Kill
A crimson strike burst forward at a blinding speed, like a beam of light!
It didn’t just neutralize the force of Boundless Realm Demon—it pierced straight through it!
An overt, brazen attack that seemed to dare me to block it. I gave a bitter grin internally.
Seventh Record
Heaven's Net Vast and Wide
The defensive form of Heaven's Net desperately swept away Ma Seonghwan’s Qi.
“A defensive form. Then you must be stepping back to reorganize next?”
“Exactly.”
I raised my sword upright and answered.
Eighth Record
Hundred-Thousand Samadhi
The eighth form of the Heavenly Record Sword was neither offensive nor defensive, but a form for concentration.
A technique rarely used unless facing a foe completely beyond one’s ability…
But standing before me now was exactly such a foe.
“A form that forcefully manifests the domain of a supreme master… intriguing. Then receive this.”
Twitch!
In a flash, I felt as though my vision twisted into a crimson haze.
‘That…!’
A type of Heart Sword—the same that had blown O-ro’s arm off!
‘You bastard!’
I had begged him not to use that!
“If you try to block with a sword barrier like before, you won’t make it out alive.”
A strike guaranteed to hit, flying in while ignoring defenses!
Just like he said—I must not block it.
I had to counter it!
Shhhhhh!
Just like when I countered Pa Yeongyeong’s Tyrant Meteor Strike before.
A spiral airflow formed, centered on the tip of my sword.
“Oh?!”
For the first time, Ma Seonghwan’s face showed intense curiosity.
Ironically, as I dealt with his sword technique, my understanding of the Heavenly Record Sword deepened even further.
‘Hold it together!’
This wasn’t ordinary Qi—this was a sword refined to its limit, fused with sword intent.
If I lost in this clash of will, it wouldn’t just be an arm that I’d lose.
‘Here it comes!’
The moment I sensed the crimson sword twisting my vision—
I squeezed every ounce of strength from the muscles in my arm.
Ninth Record
Heavenly Earth Reversal
Ma Seonghwan’s Heart Sword and the counterstrike of Heavenly Earth Reversal collided, each trying to consume the other.
And the result…
Was my victory.
Flash!
The Heart Sword—mixed with hues of black, gold, and crimson—was reflected straight back at Ma Seonghwan.
“Magnificent!”
Even as his own strike was about to hit him in return,
Ma Seonghwan’s expression finally showed genuine emotion.
FWOOSH!
Centered around Ma Seonghwan, a massive domain of sword intent erupted, receiving the blow of Heavenly Earth Reversal head-on.
And then—
BOOOOM!
The resulting shockwave was so powerful, the entire massive underground chamber was destroyed beyond recognition.
RUMBLE—!
A tremor shook so violently that my inner ear almost lost balance as aftershocks erupted from all directions.
Once the artificial earthquake finally subsided—
‘Shit.’
I confirmed that my opponent was completely unharmed.
Though he had been pushed back several steps, Ma Seonghwan stood tall up ahead, legs firmly planted, staring straight at me.
‘This is insane. That man isn’t just some ordinary Extreme Demonic Realm master.’
No—he was definitely beyond that.
Ma Seonghwan bared his teeth in a broad grin.
“That last strike was truly splendid.”
“……”
“There are probably no more than five people in the entire Cult who could take that strike head-on. I can guarantee it.”
Even if there are no more than five who could endure it…
One of those five was standing right in front of me!
“Nine forms coming together into a single law, achieving perfect harmony. Truly, it deserves to be called a peerless divine art.”
Just as Saber Demon Pa Uryang was known to never compliment swordsmen,
It was said that even Ma Seonghwan, the Sword Demon himself, rarely praised any sword art not belonging to the Blood Dragon Demonic Clan to this extent.
“However… if I recall correctly, the Heavenly Record Sword has one final form left, doesn’t it…?”
“……”
“Am I wrong?”
I let out a quiet sigh and affirmed his words.
“No, you’re right.”
The final form of the Heavenly Record Sword that I hadn’t used yet… or more accurately, couldn’t use.
I could imitate the form, sure—but to actually bring out its full power would be an enormous gamble.
“Can you show it to me?”
“Gladly.”
I nodded and readied my stance.
‘Still a ways to go before the fifteen minutes are up.’
Because the side effects were significant, I had avoided using it—even with a body that had reached Peak Demonic Master Level.
But now… I could.
Ten Heavenly Record Demonic Sword
Final Record
“Sky-Breaking…!”
Just as I was about to draw my sword and release the final form—
Flinch.
I abruptly stopped mid-motion at the sudden shift in Ma Seonghwan’s expression.
The anticipation that had just moments ago lit up his face vanished completely.
His eyes widened, his jaw clenched tight, and his grip on the sword tensed.
‘Ah….’
In that moment—
I instinctively realized that Ma Jinyoon, behind me…
His life had come to an end.