Chapter 155 – The Successor is Confirmed (6)

As time passed, Han So-un’s hand began to be pushed back. Yu-jin’s Nine Heavens Divine Demonic Arts possessed the power to annihilate both internal and demonic energy alike, so her strength was bound to diminish continuously. But Han So-un was not alone.

“It won’t do to forget about me!”

Bukri Eun, who had been struck down by Yu-jin earlier, had already recovered her strength and aimed her hands at him. An immense power, one that even Yu-jin could not ignore, was gathering in her hands.

“Take this!”

Yu-jin, who was focusing almost all his power on Han So-un, found it extremely difficult to block Bukri Eun’s attack as well.

If he turned to block Bukri Eun’s assault, Han So-un’s hand would reach him.

‘As expected, facing two absolute masters of the Profound Realm is tough.’

If this were a fight to the death, it would be simple, but this was a spar, not a life-or-death battle. Moreover, Yu-jin had no intention of using lethal techniques against his women. So he could only grit his teeth.

Soon, a palm strike concentrating all of Bukri Eun’s power surged forward to engulf Yu-jin.

‘I have no choice.’

Having made a decision, a glint appeared in Yu-jin’s eyes. And the palm strike that engulfed him erupted in a massive explosion.

A huge cloud of dust rose. A cloud so thick that nothing could be seen.

When it dissipated, Han So-un and Bukri Eun were on the ground, and only Yu-jin remained standing serenely. Some kind of energy had enveloped Yu-jin’s body, but it vanished completely the moment the dust cloud settled.

“M… Master… what in the world was…?”

Recalling the scene she had just witnessed, Han So-un trembled. What Yu-jin had just shown was so incredible that even she, an absolute master of the demonic path, was shaken.

Even setting aside the impossibly fast transition between offense and defense.

Yu-jin looked at her and gave a slight smile.

“It was merely bringing a concept I had only ever imagined into reality. My final secret art, perhaps?”

It was a technique he had always considered but had never thought to actually perform.

A technique a level above even the Ink Dragon, known as the strongest among his arts. He was able to perfectly execute it for the first time after gaining Kang Yu-hyeon’s enlightenment.

The two women were alive only because Yu-jin had withdrawn his power at the last moment; had he not, both would have lost their lives. And that was despite not having unleashed it with the intent to kill.

“Master, you will become the greatest of all time.”

As Han So-un spoke with conviction, Yu-jin smiled. He then reached out and pulled the still-unconscious Bukri Eun into an embrace.

“Ah, So-un. Let me correct one thing. It’s not that I will become the greatest of all time—I already am.”

No longer fearing even the Heavenly Demon, Yu-jin spoke with a voice brimming with confidence. It was a bold proclamation, but Han So-un could only nod in agreement.

“Now then, it’s time to ascend to the position of family head.”

Most of the trash had been cleaned up, and the remaining dissenters were all holding their breath. There was no one left who could stand in the way of his ascension.

* * *

Kang Yong-hoon, severely injured by Yu-jin, was still unconscious. But his consciousness was trapped in despair.

‘I lost again.’

He knew Yu-jin was strong. Yu-jin had always stood on a higher plane, serving as a wall he could never overcome.

He had challenged him several times already, but not once had he managed to land a proper blow. No matter how strong Yu-jin was, this was nothing short of a humiliation for Kang Yong-hoon.

‘Why did I lose?’

Even while unconscious, Kang Yong-hoon pondered endlessly. Why on earth did he keep losing?

He had switched to a new demonic art, but the fact that he was practicing demonic arts remained unchanged. He had pursued strength by any means necessary, yet Kang Yu-jin remained an insurmountable wall.

[Because you are weak.]

Just then, something entered Yong-hoon’s consciousness and cried out.

‘I’m weak?’

[That’s right! You are weak! You lost constantly because you are weak! Therefore, you must become stronger!]

That was it. He just needed to become stronger. If he became stronger, he could surpass Kang Yu-jin.

But how was he to become stronger? With time, he would naturally grow stronger. But there was no guarantee Yu-jin would remain stagnant either.

He needed to become strong enough to rival Yu-jin in a short period, but Kang Yong-hoon knew of no such method.

[Accept me! If you accept me, you will become stronger! Stronger than anyone!]

Something unknown to Yong-hoon cried out to him incessantly, and at the temptation of becoming stronger, he felt his resolve waver.

‘I can become stronger?’

Yong-hoon asked.

[You can.]

The something answered.

‘Really?’

Unable to believe it, Yong-hoon asked again.

[Really.]

The something answered again, its voice filled with strong conviction.

‘Even stronger than my brother?’

[Even stronger than Yu-jin.]

Yong-hoon’s questions continued, but the ‘something’ patiently answered each one. Finally convinced, Yong-hoon cried out.

‘Give me power! The power to become stronger than anyone else!’

[Relax your body. And accept me!]

Yong-hoon followed the command and relaxed his body. Then, a massive presence began to enter his body.

At that moment, in the room where Yong-hoon lay, an ominous black energy spewed forth from the Sky Piercing Sword and seeped into his body.

* * *

Dressed in the Ink Dragon Robe, Yu-jin made his way somewhere. Four masked women followed behind him.

His previous handmaidens were currently scattered, attending to Namgung Hwa-rin, Ju Yun-hui, and Lee Hye-yeon.

Of course, he received regular contact and, through them, could exchange news with the women who would become his wives.

‘No need to worry about that side of things anymore.’

All his women had offered their help, but Yu-jin had refused them all. He had already seized control of the situation long ago, and his pride wouldn’t allow him to accept help from women in the first place.

Yu-jin believed that things only had meaning when you achieved them yourself. And now, he was on his way to deal with the final obstacle to his succession.

Though after taking care of Kang Yong-hoon, it could hardly be called an obstacle anymore.

“Hyeon-woo, you in there?”

Yu-jin asked, looking at the warriors standing before a grand pavilion. The faces of the warriors who looked back at him were filled with fear. Ever since he had utterly crushed the elders, Yu-jin had become an object of terror to them.

“The Third Young Master… is inside… But he gave orders for no one to enter…”

As one of the trembling warriors spoke, the smile on Yu-jin’s lips widened. He knew he wasn’t the type to turn back just for that, and the warriors knew it too.

“I wouldn’t want you to get in trouble with my little brother for no reason, so close your eyes for a moment.”

Before Yu-jin could even finish speaking, his Spiritual Eye activated, and the warriors lost consciousness and collapsed.

Having effortlessly dispatched the warriors, Yu-jin slowly passed through the gate. At the sight that revealed itself, an incredulous laugh escaped him.

“Is this his way of showing off how rich he is?”

Looking at the dense mist, Yu-jin’s expression was one of amusement rather than fear.

No matter how much money one has, what kind of mindset leads someone to set up such a formation in their own residence? He couldn’t tell what was inside, but Yu-jin judged that it would undoubtedly be quite troublesome.

Of course, that didn’t mean it could stop him. Nothing in this world could any longer prevent him from getting what he wanted.

“Is it because he has so much money? An incomprehensible way of thinking. Well, whatever the case, I suppose it’s my duty as his older brother to teach him that money can’t protect you.”

“Will it be alright if we do not intervene?”

Eun Seol-rin whispered in his ear, and Yu-jin shook his head. He enjoyed this kind of amusement, so he planned to handle it himself.

“I don’t think there’s any need for you to step in. I’ll put an end to this.”

With those words, Yu-jin stepped into the mist. As if to welcome the intruder, an arrow immediately flew straight for his face.

But Yu-jin calmly deployed his Wings of Light, which deflected the arrow. No matter how powerful the arrow, it was not enough to pierce the Wings of Light.

But that wasn’t the end of the traps. Three more arrows came flying, precisely targeting his upper, middle, and lower body.

“What a waste of money. These kinds of mechanical arrays are meaningless before an absolute master. Anyway, what’s the purpose of this mist? It feels like it’s trying to swallow me.”

Yu-jin continued to mutter as he walked, and the mechanical arrays revealed more terrifying and cunning devices, one by one.

A ceaseless rain of arrows, blades forming underfoot, and more. The sharp blades gleamed, emitting a brilliant white light.

The blades, embedded randomly yet meticulously, were all of different lengths. Making it impossible for any ordinary intruder to pass.

“A strange formation. Has it distorted the space within?”

The path from the gate to the pavilion was not that long. And there wasn’t enough open space to set up so many traps.

Yet the mechanical arrays were clearly in place. And this strange mist was attempting to distort his senses.

Realizing this, Yu-jin grinned and spread his arms wide. In that moment, thirteen Wings of Light unfurled. And as the unfurled wings swung wide, a tremendous force began to shake the mist.

A series of deafening explosions erupted.

“Hahahaha! Since when have I lived so cautiously, worrying about every little thing!”

Yu-jin laughed heartily, and with every swing of his wings, countless orbs of light struck in all directions. Under that immense power, the numerous traps were destroyed before they could fulfill their purpose.

As the Wings of Light destroyed all the mechanical arrays, the mist began to tremble violently before transforming into a terrifying weapon and lunging at Yu-jin.

“The power of money is truly frightening. It can even do something like this?”

The fog targeted Yu-jin as if it were a giant beast. Watching the fog, Yu-jin moved his Wings of Light, and the mist could not withstand the massive wings of light, dissipating before them.

But the fog regenerated endlessly, trying to envelop him, and Yu-jin frowned, infusing his Wings of Light with the Nine Heavens Divine Demonic Arts.

In that instant, the golden wings began to take on an ominous white glow, and when these transformed wings swung, all the fog vanished in a flash.

“Hmm.”

Having found himself inside the pavilion, Yu-jin nodded in satisfaction. And following the path he had created, the four women entered.

Yu-jin led the women forward without hesitation and finally arrived at Kang Hyeon-woo’s room. He immediately opened the door and found Kang Hyeon-woo staring back at him with a look of surprise.

“It’s been a while, little brother.”