The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 431

신마의선 (431)

“Unexpected.”

Jong Geuk-jin slightly curled the corner of his mouth.

“If, by any chance… I were to encounter someone inside, I thought it would be someone else.”

The smile lingering around Jong Geuk-jin’s mouth deepened.

Thud.

Jong Geuk-jin, with his hands hanging down, began to walk toward Dan Ak-seon.

With each step, the dense demonic energy enveloping his entire body gradually became clearer.

In contrast, his eyes were very ordinary, unlike before.

However, that appearance was even more chilling to Dan Ak-seon.

Beyond Jong Geuk-jin’s eyes, which had even deeply concealed his murderous intent, lay a terrifying danger that sent shivers down one’s spine.

“Have you improved a little?”

Jong Geuk-jin was slightly impressed by Dan Ak-seon’s composed demeanor, even after receiving his gaze head-on.

Without the slightest tremor, and rather casting an icy cold gaze, Dan Ak-seon possessed a presence that overwhelmed the surroundings.

“But.”

Jong Geuk-jin opened his mouth with arrogant eyes.

“Your opponent was too bad.”

Kwaang!

The sound of an explosion and Dan Ak-seon’s figure being mercilessly thrown back occurred immediately after.

“Ugh!”

Dan Ak-seon, who spat out a mouthful of blood, stared at Jong Geuk-jin with surprised eyes.

Even though he hadn’t taken his eyes off him for a moment, he couldn’t see how he had attacked him.

However, what was certain was that he had become much stronger than when they last met in Kunlun Mountain.

‘But….’

Still, it was okay so far.

Although he had allowed a stinging blow, it was bearable.

Because at the last moment, he instinctively twisted and lifted the energy that had rushed towards his chest, thus dissipating a considerable amount of the impact.

Jong Geuk-jin also wore a somewhat surprised expression, as if he hadn’t expected it.

Not missing the opportunity, Dan Ak-seon quickly got up and distanced himself from Jong Geuk-jin.

Then, he abruptly opened his mouth.

“Thousand-Human Blood Essence.”

“……?”

“Until now, everyone has assumed that the Thousand-Human Blood Essence was a specially manufactured elixir [a mystical potion]. But it wasn’t.”

Interesting emotions filled Jong Geuk-jin’s eyes.

Dan Ak-seon pointed to the dense black mist surrounding the sacred ground.

“It was referring to the formation itself that surrounds this sacred ground.”

“You figured it out.”

Jong Geuk-jin nodded.

“That’s right.”

Dan Ak-seon quietly groaned.

It was relatively recent that he began to doubt the purpose of the formation installed in the sacred ground.

He had found several strange aspects through his conversation with Zhuge Shan.

The nature of the formation was different from the one installed in the Demonic Cult’s main base.

Eventually, he reached one conclusion.

From the beginning, the purpose of the formation here was not to block the intrusion of outsiders.

It was designed to prevent the demonic energy trapped inside from escaping.

And the demonic energy collected in that way gathers in the central palace.

This was also the reason why Jong Geuk-jin had become so strong in such a short period.

Suddenly, Dan Ak-seon frowned as something came to his mind.

“This is like….”

Jong Geuk-jin’s eyes narrowed slightly.

It was because he anticipated Dan Ak-seon’s next words.

“Are you trying to say it resembles the Northern Darkness Divine Art (北冥神功)?”

The Demonic Cult’s cursed martial art that plunders the opponent’s vital essence (元精) and makes it one’s own.

However, it had been lost long ago and was now known to have died out.

It was after some time that Jong Geuk-jin spoke again.

“You know that your mother killed the previous Heavenly Demon, right?”

“……”

“He was my grandfather.”

Dan Ak-seon was startled by Jong Geuk-jin’s words.

“But he didn’t die immediately even after being stabbed in the fatal point. He lingered for more than ten days in a state of neither living nor dying.”

“……!”

“The Six Demonic Venerables, judging that a new Heavenly Demon to replace him was needed, eventually found a way.”

“What is it?”

“Have you ever heard of the Receive and Accept Dragon Power (收受吸龍力)?”

Jong Geuk-jin smiled faintly as if he knew Dan Ak-seon would be puzzled.

“Originally, it belonged to the Small Thunder Sound Temple. Now it is a lost art, and only our cult possesses the mental cultivation technique. It is also a type of essence-absorbing art (吸精功) similar to the Northern Darkness Divine Art.”

Only then did Dan Ak-seon realize why the Small Thunder Sound Temple had joined forces with the Demonic Cult.

“You lured the Small Thunder Sound Temple with that as bait.”

Jong Geuk-jin curled up a bitter smile.

“The Six Demonic Venerables, who had their feet on fire at the time, made me learn it.”

Because the existence of the Heavenly Demon could not be replaced by anything.

To create a new Heavenly Demon to fill Jong Yeo-ui’s position, they took a gamble.

“Through that, I made all of my grandfather’s internal energy my own.”

And Jong Yeo-ui, who had lost his internal energy, eventually died.

Dan Ak-seon finally understood why Jong Geuk-jin possessed such high-level martial arts at his age.

“But the Receive and Accept Dragon Power was an incomplete martial art. Above all, because I learned it in a hurry, the internal energy I gained was only about seventy percent of the internal energy my grandfather originally possessed.”

“But I heard you are stronger than the previous Heavenly Demon.”

“It was possible because of the Six Demonic Venerables’ devotion.”

To make up for the parts that still fell short of Jong Yeo-ui, they willingly offered their internal energy to Jong Geuk-jin.

“Even so, it was not enough to achieve a demonic world dominating the Central Plains.”

This was also why he sought out the sacred ground.

Originally, this was the place where the Heavenly Demon was completed.

The Demonic Cult’s secret technique, which was the only thing that could replace the lost Northern Darkness Divine Art, was the formation installed here.

“Then let’s end it now.”

Jong Geuk-jin was relaxed.

Through the one exchange earlier, he had sufficiently gauged that Dan Ak-seon was no match for him.

Jong Geuk-jin slowly raised his hands, which had been hanging down.

Thrum.

The demonic energy surrounding the area seemed to writhe once, then began to gather like a mirage toward Jong Geuk-jin’s hands.

And this became denser each time he took a step, eventually swallowing his entire figure.

Within it, Jong Geuk-jin’s eyes gleamed coldly.

A primal murderous intent that stimulated the fundamental fear inherent in the depths of the abyss was felt.

However, even facing this, Dan Ak-seon quietly smiled.

“No. It’s just beginning.”

Crack.

Dan Ak-seon suddenly swung the Dark Dragon Spear and smashed one of the pillars of the nearby palace.

Alarm filled Jong Geuk-jin’s eyes.

“What are you doing!”

Dan Ak-seon hurriedly stepped back.

He suddenly felt a chilling sensation and a stiffness near his chest.

Sure enough.

Swoosh.

The spot where Dan Ak-seon had been standing just a moment ago caved in, and everything that existed in that space was erased as it was.

Belatedly, fierce energy scattered in all directions.

Dan Ak-seon instinctively avoided the blow, but his heart sank.

Not only was the power formidable, but he couldn’t predict Jong Geuk-jin’s attack, which was unleashed without any prior movement.

If he had been just a little late, he would have been helplessly caught off guard without even having time to defend.

It was then that Dan Ak-seon swung the Dark Dragon Spear.

It was because of an eerie feeling that was hard to explain.

Clang!

The space where the Dark Dragon Spear was swung down distorted, and a deafening roar erupted.

“Kugh!”

A groan escaped from Dan Ak-seon’s mouth.

The tingling shock that traveled up his wrist was shaking him inside.

Blood was seeping out between Dan Ak-seon’s fingers, which were gripping the wildly shaking Dark Dragon Spear.

The palms, torn to shreds and unable to withstand the impact, were in such a state that it was a wonder the bones were not exposed.

However, unlike before, he did not let go of the Dark Dragon Spear this time.

Even in the midst of this, Dan Ak-seon swung the Dark Dragon Spear again.

Crack.

Dan Ak-seon smashed another pillar and grinned at Jong Geuk-jin.

“I’m doing something like this.”

Jong Geuk-jin’s face, which had been wearing a puzzled expression for a moment, soon contorted with anger.

It was because he belatedly realized that it was an answer to what he had said.

“How dare you!”

For the first time, bewilderment settled on Jong Geuk-jin’s face.

Of the six pillars supporting the palace,

As two of them were destroyed, the formation surrounding the area began to shake violently.

At the same time, the demonic energy surrounding him rapidly returned to the black mist surrounding the palace as if being sucked in.

Confirming this, Dan Ak-seon wiped the blood flowing down his mouth and grinned.

“Now, no one can escape this place. Even if it’s you.”

Dan Ak-seon had sensed from early on that Jong Geuk-jin was rushing, though he tried to appear calm.

It wasn’t difficult to guess what he was aiming for.

He intended to join the demonic beings outside the formation before their numbers dwindled further.

Of course, he couldn’t allow this to happen.

He couldn’t guess the reason, but he was certain of only one thing.

‘I must not let them meet!’

The reason he deliberately destroyed part of the formation to distort the flow was also because of this.

And this accurately struck Jong Geuk-jin’s weakness.

“The formation inside here is no longer on your side.”

Dan Ak-seon allowed the formation to run wild as it pleased.

“Hmph!”

Jong Geuk-jin coldly snorted and strode into the black mist surrounding the palace.

In an instant, his figure disappeared into the black mist.

But…….

Not long after, he was pushed back out as if repelled.

Bewilderment surfaced on Jong Geuk-jin’s eyes.

He, who prided himself on being the best in the world, was trapped by a mere formation!

Jong Geuk-jin, glaring at the black mist undulating before his eyes, suddenly unleashed a palm strike like lightning.

Kaboom!

The incomparably majestic and powerful energy struck the mist in front.

However, that powerful palm force was swallowed into the hazy mist and disappeared without a trace.

“…….”

Only then did Jong Geuk-jin realize that the situation was unusual.

Dan Ak-seon opened his mouth towards him.

“It’s no use. The gate of life (生門) [a safe passage] inside here no longer exists. Now, it’s just the two of us here.”

Conversely, they were deprived of their freedom.

A complete isolation from the outside world (圍籬安置) [a complete lockdown].

The only difference is whether it is a thorny bush or a formation.

Jong Geuk-jin was dumbfounded.

He never expected that Dan Ak-seon would use such a reckless mutual destruction tactic.

Now, the space itself was distorted and warped to the point that even he could not do anything about it.

“Now, let’s start properly.”

Dan Ak-seon, gripping the Dark Dragon Spear, tilted it and pointed it towards Jong Geuk-jin.

Dan Ak-seon’s plan was really simple.

To just endure and keep enduring until the opponent was exhausted and fell.

It was too simple to even call it a plan, but if he did it right, there would be nothing more troublesome for the opponent than this.

And Dan Ak-seon was confident.

“The more you try to kill me, the stronger the formation will become.”

The original formation, which gathered the demonic energy inside the sacred ground and supplied it to this place, was now a bottomless glutton.

It absorbed the energy and the resulting shock that raged inside, and its power increased accordingly.

Jong Geuk-jin scoffed at those words.

If so, the way to escape this place was simple.

Just quickly kill Dan Ak-seon and escape the sealing formation before its power became stronger.

Dan Ak-seon, reading Jong Geuk-jin’s murderous intent, curled up a meaningful smile.

“It won’t be that easy.”

“Will it really?”

With a cold rebuke, a red flash bloomed from Jong Geuk-jin’s hand.

At the same time, red lines that appeared in an instant filled Dan Ak-seon’s eyes in a dizzying manner.

Realizing that they were all sharp and powerful energies, Dan Ak-seon quickly rolled his body.

Crack.

A chilling sound erupted from the spot where Dan Ak-seon had been standing.

Jong Geuk-jin also anticipated that Dan Ak-seon would evade, and continued his attack again.

Once again, a blood-colored flash like lightning flickered from Jong Geuk-jin’s hand.

Clang!

Dan Ak-seon, who instinctively swung the Dark Dragon Spear and deflected the blood-colored energy that flew towards his chest, felt the nerves in his entire body tensing.

He had somehow managed to block it from earlier, but he was still wondering how it was possible.

He was vaguely guessing that it was sensing the premonition of the opponent’s demonic art being manifested.

It was highly likely due to the demonic art he had accepted to pass through the formation.

“Hmph!”

Jong Geuk-jin curled up a cold smile.

He also felt something was strange and decided to change his approach this time.