The Max Level Hero Has Returned!

"Ah...." Dang Yu-Rin realized she had been easily defeated and flopped down in frustration.

According to what Davey heard from Dokgo Jun, the Sacheon Dang Family was on the Righteous Path side, but now it was on the Evil Path side for some reason. Davey thought it made sense; in 150 years, some things were bound to change.

"Ah... ugh..." Overwhelmed by despair and bitterness, she eventually started crying.

The spectators, including the senior martial artists, only saw the performance of their juniors, but the participants themselves were different; naturally, each had their own life and experiences, so they each felt differently about their victories and losses.

Davey watched as Tae Yu-Chun leisurely dusted off his hands and walked down toward him, flashing a bright, innocent smile.

"Alright! We can finally have our battle!"

Being a genius did not merely refer to the excellence of one’s physique. It meant that one's mental strength was able to support the physical one in order to achieve greatness in martial arts.

"Actually, I am blessed with the Heavenly Martial Physique," he told Davey in a teasing tone, as if sharing a secret.

There were three extreme physiques that existed in this world.

First, the Heavenly Spirit Physique. It was normally dormant and it made its owner seem like a talentless shell of a human being, but once awakened—although the chances of that were very slim—it could help the individual achieve absolute physical perfection in a way no other physique could, and it evolved at a tremendous speed.

Second, the Heavenly Martial Physique. It allowed the individual to reach the absolute pinnacle of martial prowess, allowing them to learn any form of martial arts without any side effects. Of course, that did not mean those with the Heavenly Martial Physique gained power just like that; their actual power depended on the effort they put in.

Finally, third: the Limitless Ultimate Physique, Illyna’s talent. As its name implied, it was a type of physique that allowed one to learn martial arts truly without limits. It was essentially an advanced version of the Heavenly Martial Physique. When it came to learning the sword, there was no physique more suitable than this, not to mention that, with enough diligent effort, it could even attain the unique traits of the Heavenly Spirit Physique.

Davey had none of these three physiques. However, his specially modified body was undeniably different from a normal human’s. He did not display any particular reaction to Tae Yu-Chun’s words.

"...You knew after all?" Tae Yu-Chun gave Davey a sly smile, seemingly unable to contain his excitement for the upcoming battle as he shivered with anticipation.

His intention was simple—it was a fight with a strong opponent that could make him look forward to their clash.

As for Davey, all he cared about was that there was one more step until he could acquire the Absolute Gem.

Davey sensed discomfort in the expressions of some Righteous Path members who knew that he was using the Heavenly Destroyer Divine Art. Some others were intrigued by the fact that a Righteous Path junior ranker smoothly reached the finals to face a strong opponent like Tae Yu-Chun, especially since most of the Righteous Path's juniors, aside from Jeok Mu-Ryeong, had been eliminated early in the competition.

Originally, some of the senior martial artists would not have left Davey to his devices. However, if it became known here that Davey used the Heavenly Destroyer Divine Art with the explicit endorsement of Wol Gye-Woo, the public opinion regarding Dokgo Jun would be drastically shaken, and the butterfly effect was not something that they could contain.

In other words, the senior martial artists wanted to kill Davey, but they could not afford to recklessly interfere. If Davey was assassinated here, he would become a martyr. Of course, they also knew the probability of a successful assassination was insignificant. The next best course of action was to prevent Davey from using the Heavenly Destroyer Divine Art and just let it fade into oblivion, but that too was impossible.

The final battle venue was completely different from the previous ones—a vast plateau that spread under the clear blue sky. A hall more than 150 meters wide had been prepared by Crown Prince Wol Gye-Woo.

The plateau was on a mountain peak, at the end of a seemingly endless path; with the massive clouds floating by, the scenery looked like the very picture of a celestial garden.

Creak... creak...

Tae Yu-Chun had a face brimming with just too much joy.

"Let's see all the skills you have to show!" he said and then wiped the smile off his face.

Then he unlocked something black that was shackled around his hands and feet.

Clang! Clang! Boom!!!

The enormous boom caused by the iron rings falling to the ground surprised and horrified the observers.

"It’ll be difficult to deal with you with these on." As he spoke, Tae Yu-Chun let out an immense amount of qi, more than anyone here could have imagined.

“Oh, that is pretty good,” Davey commented.

Illyna could grow tremendously through immense effort with her Limitless Ultimate Physique. Tae Yu-Chun, on the other hand, must have continuously conditioned himself to endure training due to his fascination for fighting strong opponents.

"Good. Only like this can I show off fully, with no regrets."

While everyone was still flustered by the battle, Tae Yu-Chun took the initiative amidst the unknown schemes of the Crown Prince of the Country of Hwan, Wol Gye-Woo.

Swinging his sword, Tae Yu-Chun smiled confidently at Davey.

"Honor to the strong! I am Tae Yu-Chun, the junior leader of the Ak Rim Sect. My martial arts are..." Tae Yu-Chun grinned widely. "...the Evil Forest Demonic Art. And that great martial art you used just now."

A shockwave of alarmed voices echoed around. "The junior leader?!"

"So he was the heir they’ve kept hidden all this time!" Surprised, most of the figures from the Evil and Righteous Paths gasped in astonishment.

The only ones who remained unfazed were Dang Yu-Rin, the girl from the Dang family, and Jeok Mu-Ryeong, who had been waiting for the fight with Tae Yu-Chun. Perhaps they both had some reason to already know the true identity of Tae Yu-Chun.

Tae Yu-Chun looked at Davey, silently grinning. "I'm lucky to meet a strong man like you. Honestly, these self-proclaimed masters here are boring."

Having said that, Tae Yu-Chun confidently gripped his sword, ready to strike. "Shall we get started?"

Clang!!!

The moment his sentence ended, an enormous shockwave erupted between Davey and Tae Yu-Chun.

"Of course! This is not enough to end you!" Grinning, Tae Yu-Chun pointed his sword at Davey.

As his blade energy shifted, Davey raised an eyebrow. The next moment, he parried the qi blade directed at him and distanced himself from his opponent.

"Oh... You know this technique quite well?"

"It's not the first time I've seen a freak who can recreate a sword art just by watching."

He was similar to Illyna. Yet, in terms of sheer brute force, Tae Yu-Chun surpassed even Illyna.

"Honestly, I was really disappointed," Davey commented.

Surprised by Davey's words, Tae Yu-Chun looked puzzled. "Disappointed?"

"I never expected that the world would degenerate this much after Dokgo Jun. To think that a world like this could be dominated by such filthy and sneaky individuals."

"Hmm, I have no interest in such complex matters." Tae Yu-Chun grinned and once again took up a stance.

Davey's Arhat Qi and the Seven Demon Qi from the Illusion Demon Sect mingled, as did the unique art of the Dokgo clan that Davey had first demonstrated in the fight with Jeok Mu-Ryeong, the Heavenly Formless Sword.

The people gasped. "What is that?!"

Davey smiled wryly. "You think that's easy to mimic?"

"Yeah! I can do it. By the way, what's the name of that technique?"

"Fine. I’ll tell you. Demonic Sword 72nd Form, Beheading Slaughtering Technique."

"Great. To think I've learned such an excellent sword technique! Then..."

Buzzzz~

The tip of his sword sang as it moved. Now, it became certain to Davey. The martial arts of the Ak Rim Sect were virtually identical to those of the Heavenrend Sect. Also, Davey could now understand why both the Ak Rim Sect and the Heavenrend Sect appeared.

Unable to replicate the original Heavenly Destroyer Divine Art, the first leader of the Ak Rim Sect and the leader of the Heavenrend Sect, Cheon Geum, used their own methods to independently create something similar. That was how the Ak Rim Sect and the Heavenrend Sect were established. Of course, unlike the Ak Rim Sect that mixed strange powers into its swordsmanship, the Heavenrend Sect had changed its ways to become a purely orthodox and righteous line.

"The elders of the sect want your sword techniques. I don't really care, but... still, you'd be wise to be careful." Having said that, Tae Yu-Chun stomped forward with great power.

Boom!!!

The ground shattered and debris flew, and he did not stop there; he actually kicked off the fragments and soared upward into the sky!

‘What amazing talent and effort…’ Regardless of Tae Yu-Chun's background, Davey decided that he was worth acknowledging. ‘Yes, that's how a martial artist should be! Not someone caught up in needless politics, but a true seeker of the ultimate purity in the martial way! This guy is the real deal.’

Davey really liked him. As Davey smiled, Perserque seemed pleased with this and rubbed Davey's cheek as she sat on his shoulder.

"You seem to be having fun."

"A strong one like him deserves special treatment."

Tae Yu-Chun was strong, but his strength was different from the Princess of the Abyss, who relied solely on brute physical strength. As lightning-fast sword energy mixed with dark aura poured out toward Davey, he reciprocated the honor with his art. Tae Yu-Chun had made an effort, so he would receive his reward.

Davey acted swiftly and activated his Heavenly Destroyer Arts without any hesitation.

[24th Form]

[Majestic Flash]

Boom!!!

Eight blades of light flew in.

Davey did not stop there; after sending the two swords he held flying toward Tae Yu-Chun, he spread out both hands.

Shh…

Simultaneously, the pure-burning qi of the Emei Sect manifested, with dozens of aureate swords starting to revolve around him.[1]

The Beheading Slaughtering Technique performed by Davey... had countered the Beheading Slaughtering Technique from Tae Yu-Chun.

"My goodness! Is that the Telekinetic Blade?!"

"Isn't that the quintessence of the Mind Sword?! Isn't that the energy sword?!"

Those who knew about this technique must have realized it was not just an ordinary junior rankers’ duel. Among the people gathered here, there were many powerhouses—leaders and elders of sects, reclusive skilled veterans, and many others—but even among them, there were very few who could show such prowess.

In contrast with their shocked expressions, the face of Tae Yu-Chun, whose life was in danger right now, was filled with increasing joy.

"Yeah!! That's it! Attack me with the intention to kill!"

With his shout, six swords made of Qi and two metal swords flashed and collided head-on with Davey’s technique.

Boom!!!

The collision of swords caused a huge shockwave, creating gusts of wind that swept across the area like a storm.

'Perserque. Verify it.'

'Already done.'

'And the result?'

'No, it’s neither from him nor from Wol Gye-Woo's side. There are some traces there, but it's not him.'

There was no need to kill people who had been accidentally implicated and were probably victims themselves. With that in mind, Davey created two energy swords in his now-empty hands and swiftly shot toward Tae Yu-Chun, who had just collided with Majestic Flash.

[Heavenly Demon 15th Form]

[Destruction of Rifts]

The twisting sword energy poured out toward Yu-Chun at unimaginable angles, as if strange snakes were attacking him.

Clang!!!

Tae Yu-Chun struggled as he deflected Davey’s countless attacks. Compared to the unscathed Davey, Tae Yu-Chun's body continued to accumulate minor injuries, but his smile did not fade.

And neither did Davey stop his sword.

Clang!! Clang!!

Each strike was a killing strike, each move targeted the opponent's life. Yet no one could interfere to stop the battle because whoever tried to do it would endanger their own lives. As for the junior rankers who were still new to the martial world, they were left gaping at the clash between Davey and Tae Yu-Chun.

Clang!!!

Davey casually flicked away the sharp sword that came in toward his shoulder from a tricky angle and plunged his fist into Tae Yu-Chun's chest.

Thud!!!

Coughing blood, Tae Yu-Chun collapsed, and Davey slammed him into the ground using the power of the Heavenly Destroyer Divine Art, with such force that the young man bounced off the ground like a rubber ball.

Swoosh!

Clang!

Quickly picking himself up only to attack ferociously the next second, Tae Yu-Chun got back into the fight.

As they exchanged moves, his technique resembled Davey’s more and more. Cries of awe echoed at his incredible talent.

"Hahaha! Your sword! It's really amazing! So enjoyable!!"

As Tae Yu-Chun reveled in the incredible joy of battle, he exploded forth with all his qi. If anyone in the same generation had been facing him, they probably would have collapsed from his sheer aura.

"In the spirit of respect, I'll show you my ultimate move. This is something I have learned and practiced in earnest, not just copied!" With these words, Tae Yu-Chun turned his sword.

As he jumped and slashed down, tens of qi blades erupted from it.

"Isn’t that the ultimate technique of the Heavenrend Sect?!" shouted Yun Hee-Ryeong.

As one of the seniors of the Heavenrend Sect, she knew all too well what the technique looked like. And she was right, in a sense. What Tae Yu-Chun used was fundamentally the same as the ultimate technique of the Heavenrend Sect—the Scattering Blossom Flash.

Yet the style was a bit different from the technique Cheon Ji-Hee had used back in the Village of the Beginning, when she went berserk. The fundamental art of the Ak Rim Sect and the Heavenrend Sect was the same, but their approaches were different; the Ak Rim Sect combined it with heretic arts, while the Heavenrend Sect preserved a righteous method.

‘If that's how it is, then I guess I’ll have to respond in kind.’

Davey called forth all martial arts that he had used in the tournament. A martial artist who mastered the Heavenly Destroyer Divine Art could learn other martial arts. The reverse was not true, however; just because someone mastered several martial arts did not mean they could learn the Heavenly Destroyer Divine Art.

Normally, it was an extreme challenge to even learn more than one martial art. For example, if one mastered one of the martial arts that Davey had just used and tried to learn another, the best case scenario was that they couldn’t; in the worst case scenario, the backlash would kill them.

One who mastered demonic arts could not learn the martial arts of Shaolin; one who mastered the martial arts of Shaolin could not learn things like the martial arts of the Bloody Soul Temple.

However, the Heavenly Destroyer Divine Art was fundamentally able to assimilate all these martial arts.

It was an act of extreme greed, but that drunkard Dokgo Jun was exactly this type of greedy person. That was the true origin of Heavenly Destroyer Divine Art. The ultimate and the absolute enlightenment.

Martial arts were based on the principle of interacting with myriad things. Even if the methods differed, all martial arts ultimately led to one purpose. The problem was that if the fundamental method of Heavenly Destroyer Divine Art was lost, anyone who tried to recreate it by actually mixing some other martial arts would end up crippled or dead.

That was the reason why it was known as a demonic art, and that was why it was literally unlearnable. There was one and only one key factor that dictated who could use it, and that was the Heavenly Spirit Physique. Even if Tae Yu-Chun had the Heavenly Martial Physique and had no theoretical limitations in learning martial arts, it was impossible for him to perfectly recreate the mixture that was the Heavenly Destroyer Divine Art.

He managed to manifest this level of strength because the martial arts of the Ak Rim Sect he was affiliated with were similar to the Heavenly Destroyer Divine Art, and because his unique physique allowed him to do things beyond the limits of normal humans. Of course, he also had his limits.

Ignoring the astonishment of the Righteous Path martial artists, Davey merged all these normally conflicting energies into the true Heavenly Destroyer Divine Art.

There were more than 80 Demonic Sword techniques, and those numbered 80 and above were all bizarre without exception. With Davey’s current strength, it was very difficult for him to use them in such a way as to ensure that the opponent did not die.

‘Please forgive a little cheating. I promise I am a saint in general.’

Thus he invoked a blessing with devout prayers.

[Ye who oversee all things... Hmm, grace request, successful.]

[Strength]

[Agility]

[Vital Pump]

[Mana Conversion]

[Reinforce the Mind]

Suddenly, a substantial amount of sacred energy filled his body, unnoticed by others.

‘As the great teacher Zhuge Liang said, if you get caught, it's a crime; if you don't, it's art.’

Davey knew he could win even without going this far. However, it was true that he wanted to show Tae Yu-Chun something good to reward his passion for strength.

[Demonic [Spirit] Sword 80th Form]

[Dying to Live, Living to Die]

Like a huge wave rushing in, his slash drove forth an energy blade dozens of meters long that left destruction in its wake as it moved through the hall.

Tae Yu-Chun hurriedly moved out of the way.

Buzzz!!

However, as if defying the laws of physics, the energy blade changed course at a right angle, heading straight toward Tae Yu-Chun.

The latter reacted out of sheer instinct, hurriedly trying to duplicate the technique Davey was using. But at that moment, he hit the limits of his physique—the limits that were in place to protect him.

"Cough!!!"

The backlash immediately came, leaving not one bone intact in Tae Yu-Chun’s body.

"It's dangerous to copy others thoughtlessly."

Davey spun his sword tip with a flourish.

[My sword shall be the brush and the heaven shall be my canvas. I shall look upon the blue sky and paint.]

Crack!!

The stage shattered under the sheer power of the technique, and for a moment, Tae Yu-Chun was suspended in mid-air, completely still, as if he was the pivot around which the world revolved.

Splat!!

Although there was no direct contact, blood splattered on Davey's sword. And when he shook off that blood to the ground, Tae Yu-Chun fell powerlessly to the ground.

Everyone gasped in horror.

Silence ensued.

The viewers were well aware that they had just seen a glimpse of a realm they might never be able to even touch in their lifetime, and all they wanted to do was engrave this fight in their minds so they would never forget even a fraction of a second.

1. The Emei Sect is another sect commonly encountered in classic wuxia stories. ☜